Q&A sessions next week on ACFD 5 levy lid lift proposal

OTHELLO — Adams County Fire District 5 residents are being invited to two public meetings to learn and ask questions about ACFD 5’s request for a levy lid lift. The meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 22 and 9 a.m. Oct. 25 at the ACFD station, 220 W. Broadway Ave., Othello. The proposal is on the Nov. 3 ballot. 

“We’re going to tell people why we’re doing a lid lift,” said Tom Salisbury, ACFD 5 chief. “We’re taking questions, basically.” 

The levy lid lift would raise the amount levied in property taxes. Fire commissioners have cited the need to replace the money the district will lose when its contract with the city of Othello expires in May 2026. The contract made up more than half the district’s operating revenue, and Salisbury said the cost of providing services is increasing at a time when the volunteer pool is decreasing.  

Fire district commissioners are asking district voters to approve raising the assessment to 90 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. That’s an increase of 27 cents.  

Salisbury and ACFD 5 commissioner Peter Anderson will make a presentation on the proposal, followed by the question-and-answer sessions. 

Othello council members voted not to renew the contract, unanimously in August 2024. 

An owner of property valued at $222,000 in assessed value would pay $199.80 if the proposal is approved. That same property owner pays $139.86 now.   

In an earlier interview, Salisbury said the district’s 2025 budget is about $1.43 million. The city’s 2025 contract is $793,000, according to an ACFD press release. About $610,000 comes from district property owners, the release said. 

Fire district officials proposed a contract to the city in 2024; the negotiations ultimately went to mediation. The mediation resulted in a proposal that included an increase in the contract price and a commitment to work on annexation of the city into the fire district. Othello City Council members opted to start a separate city fire department instead. 

Ending the contract came at a time when fighting fires is getting more expensive, and the district is getting busier. A district press release said the costs of protective firefighting gear, medical supplies, fuel and firefighter wages have all increased. 

Emergency calls have increased an estimated 25% in the district and 43% in the Othello city limits, the release said. Fire District 5 has five paid employees and about 21 volunteers. Salisbury said the volunteer pool is limited, which is a challenge. 

“Our call volume keeps increasing, but we don’t keep increasing the volunteer pool. During the day is when it’s the worst, because all your volunteers are working. You rely on those full-time people that we have on the fire department to respond to all the calls,” he said. 

Salisbury is a 35-year ACFD 5 veteran, starting as a volunteer and eventually joining the paid staff. He said he’s seen a downward trend. 

“Volunteerism has gone way down,” Salsbury said. “Having a full-time job and a family, with all (requirements) and the classes and stuff you need to take, people just don’t have time anymore.”   

Volunteers who do join the department, he said, are committed to it. 

“I’m fortunate. I think I have a great group of volunteers,” he said.