Hauser Fire down but not out

Voters in the Hauser community resoundingly voted down a levy reset Tuesday that would have raised Hauser Lake Fire Protection District and Volunteer Fire Department’s annual base budget from $255,392 to $736,067.

"We have to do another levy in the future," Hauser Fire Chief James Neils said Thursday. "I've got to meet with my board before I can make any decisions because it’s the commissioners that make these decisions."

It was the first time in 21 years the department had put forth a levy election to the voters in its district, and only the second time the department had done so since it was formed in 1952.

Of the 740 people who voted in Tuesday's election, 268 were in favor of the levy reset while 472 people opposed it. The levy needed at least 66.6% of approving votes for the levy to pass.

If it had been approved, the yearly $.51 per $1,000 property owners in the district are now paying would have gone up to $1.48 per $1,000, for a fee increase of $.97 per $1,000 of taxable assessed property value. 

"I was disappointed, but after talking with folks, I think I understand it," Neils said. "I think we asked for too high of a rate for a lot of them. Even the supporters said, 'No, I can’t afford that.'"

For now, the rates and operating budget will remain the same. Neils said the community won't feel the impact of the failed levy because the department has planned about two years ahead.

"We didn't do this at the last minute," Neils said. "We did our planning and due diligence so we knew it was coming, so we’ll be operating as normal for a little while."

Neils will meet with fire commissioners Tuesday.

The Hauser Lake Fire Protection District, which serves more than 2,000 people in the Hauser Lake area, is projected to grow by 60% by 2031.

The department had planned to use the funds to maintain and enhance firefighting and emergency medical services as demand grows; replace aged apparatus and equipment, such as radios and personal protective equipment; increase paid personnel; provide funds necessary to capture impact fees made available to Hauser Fire before those funds must be returned and to preserve Hauser Fire’s favorable Idaho Survey and Rating Bureau insurance rating.