Library support groups need to be aware of the importance of the upcoming City Fire Service Levy measure on the November 8 election ballot. As the City fire department has been gradually merging with Fire District 1 to operate as the East Jefferson Fire Rescue a disparity has arisen between what city residents are paying in taxes to support emergency services and what Fire District taxpayers pay.

Without the additional levy, there is about a $625,000 annual shortfall in what city taxpayers cover, despite the fact that more than half the calls for service (about 60%) occur within the city. The city is required by contract to pay its share of emergency costs. The November levy lid lift measure would fill this gap. If the city becomes fully annexed to the fire district, the levy would end ("sunset") and City residents would become voting members of the Fire District.

If the levy fails, the City will need to make up to $625,000 in service cuts to police, public works, parks and other programs in order to cover necessary payments to the Fire District. Since our library expansion project is an upcoming city capital project, we need to be aware that there are implications for us in the outcome of this levy.

Linnea Patrick, Port Townsend Public Library Foundation Vice-President