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Fire Facilities, Fleet, and Operations Levy Lid Lift

News Releases and Presentations

About this Levy Lid Lift

The proposed City of Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) Facilities, Fleet and Operating Levy Lid Lift will be on the November 5, 2024, ballot.

This measure would support TFD facilities, fleet, maintenance, and staffing to improve response capacity and firefighter safety. 

The levy would;

• increase the permanent regular property tax levy by $0.65 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2025;
• increase the 2026-2030 levy by up to 6% to maintain that rate; and
• authorize the 2030 levy amount as the base for computing levies in succeeding years.

Safeguarding our Growing Community

The Tacoma Fire Department's mission is to protect people, property, and the environment and compassionately serve the community. 467 firefighters serve our response area from 17 fire stations staffed 24/7/365. There are roughly 72 square miles within the City limits and contract areas with Fircrest and Fife/Dist. 10, along with 44 miles of shoreline, 25 square miles of saltwater and an estimated population of 243,000. In 2023, we responded to 51,499 emergency incidents. 

Levy Lid lifts help us keep up with growth:

• Our response area’s population has grown an estimated 9.6% since 2013.  
• Call volume has increased by 32% since 2013.

How to Vote

• Register to vote or track your ballot at VoteWA.gov.
• For election information, visit pierce county elections. 

Questions? 

Fire Chief Tory Green welcomes your questions at (253) 591-5774 or email tfdfirelevy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will the fire department use the funds generated by the levy?

The funds generated by the levy will primarily be used to update facilities, upgrade essential equipment, and add staffing and emergency apparatus to respond promptly to emergencies.  

How is the levy calculated, and how much will it cost me?

The Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer establishes a property's Assessed Value (AV) and determines property taxes in Pierce County. A levy rate is then applied to calculate the amount owed, expressed as a dollar amount per $1,000 of AV (e.g., $0.65 per $1,000). It is collected as part of your regular property tax payment through the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer's Office. The estimated average household increase is $25 per month for a home with an assessed value of $450,000. 

Are there any exemptions available for certain groups of taxpayers?

Qualifying seniors, veterans, and others would be exempt, per RCW 84.36.381.

Why do you need more resources?

Budget constraints have prevented the department from adding additional first-response resources over the last 30 years despite call volumes increasing from about 17,000 to over 50,000 today. Simply put, we need to add resources to meet increased demand.

Is homelessness the reason for the increase in call volume?

Many factors contribute to the utilization of fire department emergency response resources.

• The population in Tacoma has increased and continues to grow. More people typically result in more calls to 911. 
• The increasing lack of access to healthcare and mental health resources in the community results in some people using 911 as their primary healthcare provider for those desperately needed services. 
• Those experiencing homelessness also have many of the same health conditions as their housed counterparts, but in extreme conditions and with fewer resources, resulting in heavy reliance upon emergency services.