Wenatchee Valley Fire Department’s new funding initiative soaring in Chelan and Douglas County

WENATCHEE– As Washington State primary elections continue well underway, results for Wenatchee Valley Fire Department’s (WVFD) fire benefit charge appear overwhelmingly positive in both Chelan and Douglas County. 

WVFD’s Proposition No. 1, the fire benefit charge, is proposed to assist Wenatchee residents in paying for emergency services in a way that treats homeowners with increased fairness. 

With the inclusion of a fire benefit charge, the current property tax levy is projected to decrease from $1.50 to $1.00 per $1000 of assessed value. The calculated fire benefit charge is then added to this value based on a property’s square footage, allowing smaller properties to pay inherently lower costs than larger industrial buildings. 

WVFD provided an example of the effect that a fire benefit charge has on property taxes, using a Douglas County home as a model of comparison.

“In most cases, homeowners will pay the same or less than they do now for a 24-hour fire and EMS response. For example, in 2024, the owner of a 2,453-square-foot home in Douglas County, appraised at $651,800, paid a fire levy of $933.28. Under the proposed fire benefit charge, the owner would pay a total of $870.94 - a savings of $62.34.” 

As of 8:13 p.m., August 6, votes for WVFD’s fire benefit charge continue to show support for the new initiative. With 70.27% of the Chelan County vote and 63.01% of the Douglas County vote, the odds for WVFD’s Proposition No. 1 seem bright, with 6,321 of the 9,314 total votes.

Will Nilles: (509) 731-3211 or will@ward.media