10/27/2026
🚒 DID YOU KNOW? Fire District 3 is an independent special-purpose government.
We've heard some questions recently about how SCFD3 is governed, where our funding comes from, and who makes decisions about our budget. We thought this would be a good opportunity to explain!
🏛️ **Who governs Fire District 3?**
SCFD3 is an independent fire protection district, established specifically to provide fire protection, emergency medical services, fire prevention, and other emergency services across approximately 570 square miles of southwest Spokane County.
We are governed by three independently elected Fire Commissioners serving staggered six-year terms. Our Board hires the Fire Chief, adopts our budget, and oversees District operations.
We do not operate under the Spokane County Commissioners, a mayor, or any city council.
💰 **Where does our funding come from?**
Approximately 96% of SCFD3's revenue comes from our single regular fire levy, currently $1.48 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The remaining revenue comes primarily from two service contracts:
- City of Spangle
- Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (Eastern State Hospital)
🏠 **Who pays the fire levy?**
Property taxes aren't limited to homeowners. The levy applies to taxable property throughout the District, including homes, businesses, apartment complexes, commercial buildings, and other taxable real estate.
The property owner is responsible for paying the tax, regardless of how the property is used.
🚒 **Where do your fire levy dollars go?**
Spokane County collects property taxes on our behalf, but the money designated for Fire District 3 goes into District funds. It does NOT go into a city or county general fund for those governments to redistribute.
Our Board of Fire Commissioners oversees how District funds are spent on personnel, training, emergency equipment, supplies, apparatus, facilities, and other operational needs.
📈 **Why does this matter?**
As an independent fire district, SCFD3 is responsible for managing its own finances and operating within available revenues. There is no separate city or county budget that automatically provides additional funding when our costs or emergency call volume increase.
Under Washington law, annual growth in our regular property tax levy revenue from existing property is generally limited to 1%, even when inflation and operating costs increase faster.
Meanwhile, SCFD3's emergency call volume continues to grow approximately 4–5% each year, placing increasing demands on our career and volunteer firefighters.
For over 80 years, we've funded fire, EMS, rescue, and other emergency services primarily through a single regular fire levy. But our six-year financial forecast shows that current revenues will not sustain current staffing and services long term.
That's why our elected Board of Fire Commissioners placed an EMS levy on the November 3 ballot. If approved, the additional revenue would help stabilize current staffing and services while adding the firefighter/EMTs needed to address growing calls for service.
We hope this helps explain how your Fire District is governed, funded, and responsible for meeting the emergency service needs of our community.
👉 SCFD3.org/EMSlevy2026
