KPFD M&O Levy Renewal Aug. 6

I have had the pleasure of serving as the fire chief of your Key Peninsula Fire Department for the past two years. I continue to be impressed by the dedication of our staff and volunteers and the support of our community that we rely upon so much.

I would like to take a moment to share how your KPFD is funded and to focus on the upcoming renewal of one of those critical revenue streams.

Your district is funded by three property tax levies. This includes our Fire Levy, renewed every four years, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Levy, and our Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Levy. It’s always important to remember that outside of the occasional grant opportunity, your KPFD receives no state or federal funding.

On your Aug. 6 ballot, you will see an initiative to renew our M&O Levy at $800,000 for a four-year term. This levy provides for the funding of equipment, staffing, and maintenance of our existing facilities. KP voters have approved this levy every four years since 2012. A 60% yes vote is required to pass. In 2020, KP voters approved the levy with a 65% supermajority.

This is not a new levy or tax; it is a renewal of an existing funding stream that your district has relied upon for over 12 years. We have asked for the same amount of money since 2012, using those funds wisely to serve our growing population. The continuation of this revenue is critical for the district to maintain existing levels of service and deployment.

If readers have any questions concerning our M&O Levy or any questions about your fire district in general, please email me at nswinhart@kpfd.org. We also continue to host our “Coffee with the Chief” events on the first of every month at 9 a.m. at our Key Center Fire Station. Remember to check our social media for news and upcoming events at www.facebook.com/kpfire16.

We are grateful for the continued support of our community. Please remember to vote Aug. 6. Thank you.