Yakima Fire Station 92 Secured with Utility Tax Increase

The Yakima City Council Tuesday voted in favor of increasing utility taxes to support Yakima Fire Department Station 92 in West Valley. The funding provides an ongoing funding source for the station that was threatened with permanent closure.

THE ORDINANCE CONTAINS A SUNSET CLAUSE

Mayor Matt Brown says the 3% utility tax increase to fund operations at Fire Station 92 equals a $36 annual increase in utility bills in the city. The ordinance, passed on a 6-1 vote will result in higher utility bills. Council member Felisa Gonzalez was the lone no vote. Brown says the ordinance contains a sunsetting of the tax if the county passes "an increased EMS levy in 2 years."

Matt Brown

GOOD NEWS FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS

He says before taking the action on Tuesday the city had funded fire station 92 through the end of August hoping to find a way to keep the station open and operating. Now that solution has been found. Brown says keeping the station open is not only good news for people living in the west part of the city but also good news for insurance rates and future development.

Yakima City Council Photo Credit The City of Yakima via Facebook

AN EMS LEVY IS STILL POSSIBLE IN THE FUTURE

The 3% utility tax passed by the Yakima City Council on Tuesday did not require voter approval. The increased tax is expected to raise some $1.8 million to fund operations at Yakima Fire Station 92.
Brown says a proposed EMS levy to fund emergency operations across the board is still on the table to be discussed in the future.