Parma voters approve $2 million fire district levy

Parma Rural Fire Protection District voters approved a temporary two-year levy on Tuesday, providing the agency with $2 million in additional funding. The measure passed with 841 votes in favor and 760 against, resulting in a final tally of 52.53 percent for and 47.47 percent against.

The district will receive $1 million each in 2027 and 2028. Fire Chief Joe Rodgers said the extra revenue addresses staffing shortages and aging equipment. He told Idaho News 6 that the district has struggled to keep firefighters and emergency medical technicians because other employers offer higher pay.

Currently, the department operates with four employees on duty each day. With the new funding, the district plans to increase daily staffing to five. The new shift structure would place three firefighters on an engine and two on an ambulance. Rodgers noted that the district is simply trying to be competitive in the local labor market.

The levy also covers facility improvements and vehicle replacements. One of the district's fire trucks dates back to 1996. Property owners will see an estimated cost of $91.06 per year for every $100,000 of taxable assessed property value.

The funding targets specific gaps in the district's operations. It allows for the eventual replacement of aging fire trucks and upgrades to station facilities. The levy is a temporary measure that expires after the 2028 fiscal year.