Duvall Fire (King County Fire District 45) is submitting a proposed levy increase of .33 cents to the voters during the May 20th election. The new levy rate would be $1.35 per thousand of assessed valuation (OAV). The maximum a fire district can collect is $1.50.

The last time Duvall Fire asked for and the voters approved an increase in the levy was in 1998. State law limits the fire district to budget increases of one percent a year. Inflation costs have been three to five percent per year in the same time period.

“We have come to the point now where we must consider raising the levy in order to continue to be able to respond to two emergency calls at once,” said Chief John Lambert.

The levy increase would cost an additional $12 per month for a $450,000 home. Duvall Fire provides fire and emergency medical services for the City of Duvall and surrounding unincorporated areas.

More than half of the $700,000 from the levy lid lift – or $400,000 – will be used to maintain staffing levels to provide for dual call coverage.

The levy also would help fund construction of and improvements to two fire stations. A portion of the funds would be used toward the construction of a new station on Kelly Road to help improve response times outside the city. The training facility on Big Rock Road would be converted to allow response for emergencies, as well.

Duvall Fire Commissioners meet on the third Thursday of every month at 3:30 p.m. at the main fire station at 15600 First Avenue Northeast in downtown Duvall. The public is always welcome to attend any of the meetings and share their ideas.

Duvall Fire provides fire suppression and emergency medical services to approximately 15,000 people over 50 square miles, including the City of Duvall, Lake Margaret, Lake Marcel, and surrounding areas. Duvall Fire is a tax supported entity with over 90 percent of the revenue coming from property taxes.