KCFR temporary levy puts question to voters about operational costs

POST FALLS — Kootenai County Fire and Rescue went back to the drawing board after a permanent override measure failed with voters in November. 

On Tuesday, the district will offer voters a measure to collect up to $5.2 million per year for two years beginning in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. 

Chief Pete Holley has been making the rounds at local council meetings in the department’s coverage area.

“This is all about transparency,” Holley said. 

KCFR serves about 70,000 people in Post Falls, Dalton Gardens, Fernan Village and unincorporated areas in the county. 

A decade ago, service volume for KCFR was a mere 4,000 calls per year. In 2025, the fire department responded to about 9,500 calls.

“There is a tremendous amount of growth and with that growth comes a need for public safety,” Holley said. 

KCFR staff have found potential revenue to be legally frozen under new legislation while the service population explodes, causing issues to how they can continue to meet operational costs.  

Fire department response times directly impact Idaho's Property Insurance Rating Organization scores and could be affected if stations or fire engines are able to be fully staffed.  

Rising costs for the same type of equipment is also increasingly becoming a problem. 

A fire truck that cost $600,000 in 2019 costs more than $1 million today as prices have nearly doubled in six years. 

KCFR staff have pledged to “zero administrative bloat” toward emergency calls and maintaining equipment. 

Holley said the two-year levy requires $12 to16 a month for the average homeowner. 

For a $500,000 value home, homeowners would pay $188.85 per year. 

The ballot measure will be decided by a simple majority of participating voters. 

The supplementary override is time-bounded and automatically expires in 2028.

Department cost breakdowns, and station maps are available at kootenaifire.com/taxes-and-bonds.