PORT LUDLOW — Three firefighters will face layoffs and three lieutenants will see their rank reduced to firefighter if a maintenance-and-operations levy fails with voters in November, Port Ludlow Fire and Rescue officials said Thursday.
The amount of the property tax levy will be determined at a commissioners meeting at 7 p.m. July 9 at Fire Station 31, 7650 Oak Bay Road.
“We only get one shot at this,” said Chief Brad Martin.
“We don’t want to ask for too much because it might not get passed, and we don’t want to ask for too little because we’ll come up short again.”
Martin said the district is facing a shortfall of between $400,000 and $500,000.
In preparation for the levy, the district has scheduled two open houses to hear concerns from community members about fire commissioners’ intentions to place the levy request on the November ballot.
They will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. June 5 at the fire station and from 10 a.m. to noon June 8 at Fire Station 33, 101 S. Point Road.
“Before we run the levy, we want to know what the people need and what they will support,” Martin said.
“We want to get a feel from the citizens before we determine the levy amount.”
In order for the measure to appear on the Nov. 5 ballot, it must be submitted to the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office by Aug. 6.
The levy is necessary, Martin said, because of declining funds due in part to decreased property values in the fire district and the overall state of the economy that has caused financial issues for tax-funded entities, including fire districts.
While the layoff notices will be distributed to the affected firefighters by June 1, they will not go forward unless the levy fails.
Actual layoffs would not take effect until Dec. 31.
The district, which serves a 55-square-mile area, has two staffed stations and one volunteer station, and employs 12 career firefighters, including four paramedics.
One of the targeted layoffs is a paramedic position, leaving three paramedics and six resident volunteer firefighters.
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
