Northside, Sagle, Westside Fire Districts to host town hall, open house ahead of levy requests

PONDERAY — Local fire districts will host a pair of outreach events next week to present information about their upcoming levy requests and answer community members’ questions. 

Sagle, Westside and Northside fire districts will host a joint town hall 6:30 p.m., April 14, at Ponderay Events Center. Northside will also host a public open house 9 a.m., April 19, at its fire station, 437 Cedar Ave., Ponderay. 

All three districts are bringing levy override requests that would expand their budgets to the May 20 ballot. Selkirk Fire, Rescue & EMS Chief Jeff Armstrong has said the increases would help the districts keep up with rising staffing and equipment costs and the added work that has come with recent population growth.

Because fire districts’ fees are levied across a region irrespective of population, revenue remains flat even when a district’s population grows. To raise their budgets by more than 3% in a year, agencies must present override requests to voters for approval at the polls. 

If all three requests receive the supermajority approval (66 2/3%) needed to pass, property owners in the Sagle, Westside and Northside districts will pay an additional $34, $71 and $41 per $100,000 of home value each year. 

During the town hall, firefighters will share about the history of local fire departments, how local districts are funded and the purpose of the levy process. 

At Northside’s open house, personnel will offer tours of the station and fire engines along with activities for kids and adults.