Voters to again decide on regional fire authority

East Clark County residents will have a second opportunity to vote on a proposal to create a regional fire authority in Camas and Washougal.

If OK’d by voters in the Nov. 4 election, Proposition 2 will ratify a regional fire authority protection service plan approved by the Camas and Washougal city councils earlier this year. The new Camas-Washougal Fire Authority would provide fire protection and emergency medical services in Camas and Washougal beginning Sept. 1.

“We’re the only agency in this county that runs two (crew members),” Camas-Washougal Fire Department Chief Cliff Free said. “Industry standard is three for cities our size. The problem with running two is that if we get to the scene of a fire and there is a known rescue, state law requires us to have a minimum of three people to enact that rescue, which means we have to wait for an additional crew member.”

A similar measure on the ballot in April failed by about 300 votes.

“We didn’t change our messaging,” Free said during an Oct. 22 informational open house at the Port of Camas-Washougal administrative office. “We stayed on point and said, ‘This is where we are. This is what we’re trying to do. This is what we can provide to you. This is what it’s going to cost. It’s a better model than what you have right now, and it ensures continuity of service.’ ”

The regional fire authority would operate under a six-member governing board, initially filled by council members of both cities. Funding would be through a property tax not to exceed $1.05 per $1,000 of assessed value to be collected in 2027. The regional fire authority would have the lowest tax rate among fire districts in Clark County, Free said.

The property tax would replace a portion of both cities’ existing lawful property tax levies. Property taxes will decrease by 88 cents per $1,000 in assessed value in Washougal and by 71 cents per $1,000 in assessed value in Camas if the proposition is approved. Differences in property values between the cities lead to the disparity, Free said.

“We’re not looking for the gold standard here. We’re looking to meet the minimum industry standard,” Free said. “We run a really tight and efficient ship, but we have some deficiencies we have to fix, and this will help us fix those deficiencies.”

The plan includes increased firefighter staffing, free ambulance co-pays for all Camas and Washougal residents, and increased voter control. The measure’s approval would prevent the dissolution of the 12-year-old joint fire department managed by the two cities.

As in April, the measure faces opposition.

Proposition 2 is a “bad deal for taxpayers and a step backward for trust in our city government,” according to “against” statement in the Clark County voters’ pamphlet submitted by Gary Pearman, Brian Wiklem and Josiah Hersey.

“Our fire service already delivers strong results, and while a three-person crew could modernize staffing, it isn’t legally required,” according to the statement. “Proposition 2 just adds new taxes, letting the city continue diverting taxpayer funds from essential services.”

The Camas-Washougal Fire Department will split into two separate agencies if the proposition isn’t approved. Free said that scenario would force Washougal, which “essentially contracts fire and EMS services” from Camas under the current interlocal agreement, to create most of its own infrastructure for a fire department from the ground up.

“What we’re trying to achieve is stability. That’s it,” Free said. “All of this comes down to stability in public safety, ensuring that there is a platform from which we can operate in perpetuity. Right now, that’s not the case.”