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Northside Fire is asking for more money again. They have great ideas and dreams but are unrealistic.

They want to hire 12 full-time firefighters, remodel stations, and buy more fire trucks. They are asking to increase their budget from $428,000 to $1.5 million a year over a three-year term. This is a permanent increase and does not go away after three years. If your property value was only $100,000 then instead of paying about $50 a year you would pay about $500 a year … that is until they ask for more money.

Let’s compare fire departments in our county. Northside has a budget of $428,000, has 450 calls a year and covers 115 square miles. Sandpoint fire has about $1.2 million budget, has about 2,000 calls, and covers the city with nine full-time firefighters. Sagle Fire has just under a $1 million budget, about 950 calls, 164 square miles, and nine full-time firefighters.

Why does Northside need more paid firefighters, more money, more apparatus than any other fire department in Bonner county? Maybe they can join the new Selkirk Fire department like Sagle and Sandpoint and save taxpayer money instead of costing money.

In addition, the schools are asking for money this summer and have realistic goals and plans. Living on a fixed income I cannot afford two large increases on my taxes. I support the schools over Northside fire because of realistic goals and solid plans. Vote no on Northside’s dream levy on May 17.

CLAIR HANSEN

Sandpoint