The Bear Lake Fire District is proposing a permanent and stable property tax levy to fund ongoing fire protection and emergency services.

Levy funds would be used for day-to-day operations, including training, equipment readiness, staffing, fuel, utilities, insurance, and ongoing maintenance of facilities and equipment used for emergency response.

The operating budget pays for daily costs, but it has not kept up with rising expenses. A levy provides a more reliable and predictable funding source to support essential services year after year.

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No. The levy is intended to maintain current fire and emergency services, not expand services or change the district’s role, unless clearly stated otherwise.

Firefighters depend on adequate training and ready equipment every day. Stable funding helps ensure quick, safe, and reliable emergency response.

Planning ahead helps avoid service disruptions, emergency spending, and uncertainty, addressing needs before they become urgent problems.

In rural areas, there are fewer backup resources. When one part of the system is strained, it can affect the entire community.

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This is a permanent levy, meaning it would continue year to year unless changed or repealed by voters.

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The levy rate is 0.00060, which is estimated to cost $60 per year for every $100,000 of taxable assessed property value, based on current assessments.

If the levy does not pass, the district would continue operating with existing funding, which does not provide adequate funding and leads to staffing challenges, deferred maintenance, or service impacts.

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Under Idaho law, a levy requires approval by a supermajority (66.67%) of voters who vote on the question.

Bear Lake Fire is a 100% volunteer fire department, and volunteers continue to play a critical role in providing emergency services across the district. In addition to volunteers, the department currently has one full-time staff member and one part-time staff who support daily operations, coordination, training, and response readiness.

As the community grows and service demands change, the fire district is planning for how to maintain reliable coverage over time.

Several factors are influencing this long-term planning:

• Emergency calls can happen more frequently and at all hours of the day

• Many volunteers work outside the area or are unavailable during daytime hours

• Training and certification requirements for firefighters have increased

• Rural response areas require longer travel times and sustained coverage

• Some emergencies require multiple responders or extended time on scene
  

Volunteer departments nationwide are experiencing similar trends, which can make it more challenging to ensure consistent response availability.

Planning for the future may include:

• Continuing to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters

• Supporting ongoing training and safety requirements

• Maintaining equipment and operational readiness

• Evaluating whether additional staffing support may be needed to ensure consistent coverage

No immediate changes to staffing are being proposed. This information is intended to help the community understand how the district is planning ahead to maintain fire protection and emergency response services in the years to come.

Bear Lake Fire District is a separate taxing district from Bear Lake County. It has its own elected commissioners, chosen by Bear Lake County voters. Those commissioners set and approve the district’s budget and spending, much like other local taxing districts.

The Fire District also operates under its own state statutes and codes. The current levy proposal is being brought forward by the Fire District.