Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 3 Proposition No. 1 — Emergency Medical Services Property Tax Levy

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 4:33 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · Only voters in this district

What it does
Proposition No. 1 Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 3 Emergency Medical Services Property Tax Levy The Board of Fire Commissioners of Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 3 adopted Resolution #26-5 concerning a proposition to fund emergency medical services. Will Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 3 be authorized to fund emergency medical services for its citizens by imposing a regular property tax levy of $.50 or less per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation for a period of six consecutive years to be collected beginning in 2027?
A YES vote means
Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 3 could levy an EMS property tax of $.50 or less per $1,000 of assessed value for six years, collected starting in 2027.
A NO vote means
The District would not be authorized to levy this EMS property tax.
Needed to pass
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean
Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Only on your ballot if you live in the Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 3.

Background

According to Spokane County Fire District 3, its current regular fire levy is $1.48 per $1,000. With the $0.50 EMS levy, the estimated combined rate would be $1.98.

The district says the levy would pay for 14 full-time firefighter/EMTs and add 24-hour staffing at Station 31 (Cheney area) and Station 36 (Spangle area). Today its only 24-hour staffed stations are in Four Lakes and Medical Lake.

The district says call volume is rising about 4–5% a year, that about 75% of emergencies are medical calls, and that it has already eliminated two positions as costs rose.

The district estimates that building a fully trained workforce would take about 21 months after approval. It calls itself the largest volunteer fire organization in Washington, with roughly 120–140 volunteers.

Put on the ballot by Board of Fire Commissioners of Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 3 (Resolution #26-5).

From official source.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 3 Proposition No. 1 mean?
Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 3 could levy an EMS property tax of $.50 or less per $1,000 of assessed value for six years, collected starting in 2027.
What does a NO vote on Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 3 Proposition No. 1 mean?
The District would not be authorized to levy this EMS property tax.
How many votes does Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 3 Proposition No. 1 need to pass?
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 3 Proposition No. 1?
SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?
The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Spokane County ballot.

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