Levy Lid Lift
2026 Levy Lid Lift Information
Proposition 2026-03
Proposition 2026-03 Levy Lid Lift Resolution
How the Levy Measure and the District’s Plan Work Together
The ballot measure (Proposition 2026-03) is the legal authorization that allows Fire Disrict 21 to restore its levy rate and provide additional funding for fire and emergency medical services.
Like most ballot measures, the resolution authorizes funding at a high level. It does not identify specific projects, stations, or capital improvements. Instead, it authorizes the District to use the funds for personnel, equipment, facilities, operations, training, and other fire and EMS purposes.
The information on this page describes Fire District 21's current priorities for using the additional funding if the levy measure is approved. Those priorities reflect the District’s assessment of its most pressing operational needs and are intended to improve emergency response throughout the District.
Current Priorities
If approved, the District intends to use the additional funding to:
- Improve current service levels by staffing Station 62 in Semiahmoo.
- Replace and modernize aging apparatus and equipment.
- Make planned modifications to Birch Bay Station 63.
These priorities are intended to strengthen emergency response throughout Fire District 21 while addressing the District’s most significant response-time challenges.
Interview with the Fire Chief
What we do
We provide fire and life safety services to 33,800 people over 156 square miles, including the communities of Blaine, Custer, Laurel, Birch Bay, Semiahmoo, and unincorporated areas of Lynden. We also serve residents of Whatcom County Fire District 4 through a contract agreement. In 2025, we responded to 5,986 calls, of which almost 70 percent were for medical emergencies.
We operate under a balanced budget, have passed all financial and accountability audits by the state, and are debt-free.
How we fund emergency services
We fund fire and life safety services through a fire levy capped at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. In 2006, voters approved a fire levy rate of $1.37. Since then, it has dropped to $0.77 per $1,000.
Why did the levy rate drop?
Each year, state law limits how much total revenue the fire district can collect. We are allowed to collect only one percent more than the previous year, plus any new construction, regardless of how much property values increase.
When property values rise faster than that limit, the levy rate automatically decreases. Even though property values may go up, the district’s total funding increases only slightly.
This situation is called “levy compression.” Over time, it reduces our purchasing power and makes it more difficult to maintain the level of emergency services our community expects.
What is a levy lid lift?
From time to time, we must ask voters to reset our fire levy rate. This is known as a levy lid lift, and it helps us keep up with much higher call volumes and much higher costs to provide service.
Voters approved a fire levy rate of $1.37 in 2006. Since then, the rate has dropped to $0.77 while call volumes have almost doubled in the last 10 years. Emergency medical calls (EMS) have increased by 50 percent and now account for almost 70 percent of all calls. And overlapping calls (multiple emergencies at the same time) happen 30 percent of the time.
We were unsuccessful in the following levy lid lift attempts:
- August 2021
- November 2021
- August 2024
Why are we asking for a levy lid lift?
- Call volumes have increased steadily, and operational costs continue to rise.
- The current levy rate has dropped due to state-imposed limits, reducing available revenue.
- Without the lid lift, service levels may decline, including slower response times and delayed equipment replacement.
What will the levy lid lift fund?
- Improve current levels of service by staffing an additional station in Semiahmoo, Station 62
- Replace and modernize aging apparatus and equipment
- Modifications to Birch Bay Station 63
Fire Chief Jason Van Der Veen welcomes your questions at 360-318-9933 or jvanderveen@nwfrs.com.
PRESENTATION AVAILABLE
Fire Chief Jason Van Der Veen welcomes the opportunity to speak to local service organizations, community groups or homeowner associations. He can provide an overview of North Whatcom Fire and Rescue and answer any questions. Please contact him at jvanderveen@nwfrs.com.
News Alerts and Releases
July 15, 2026 - Northern Light article
July 8, 2026 - Northern Light Letter to the Editor
March 27, 2026 - My Bellingham Now
March 26, 2026 - Northern Light article
March 26, 2026 - Northern Light Letter to the Editor
