HAYDEN - The Northern Lakes Fire District on May 15 will float to voters a permanent override levy that would increase its annual budget by $1.6 million per year.

The funding would allow the district, which serves Hayden, Rathdrum, Hayden Lake, Twin Lakes and Garwood, to implement a 15-year plan to construct a third station north of Hayden, provide staffing for the site, improve an existing training facility and provide vehicle and equipment replacement programs.

The funds would not provide salary increases.

"Some districts already have funding for long-range plans in place," Northern Lakes Chief Dean Marcus said. "We're just trying to get there.

"We are at a state of not having enough funding to handle the demand and plan for the future. There's no mechanism in place for long-term purchases. If we don't fund this plan, there will be a decrease in the level of service."

If voters approve the levy with a super majority vote (two-thirds), the owner of a $150,000 home would see a $44.17 a year hike in taxes or $3.68 per month based on today's property values.

"Yes, there's going to be a cost, but it's also an investment in the public's safety," said Ralph Kramer, deputy chief. "We're not painting doom and gloom; we're just trying to show the taxpayers that we're trying to prepare for the future and that will save them money in the long run."

While the district's budget has increased in recent years - districts are allowed to increase taxes up to 3 percent per year under law without voter approval - Northern Lakes has never gone to its voters for a levy since it was formed in 2001 when the Hayden Lake and Rathdrum fire departments consolidated.

The last time Rathdrum voters were pitched a fire levy was 1996 when it had its own rural department and the last time Hayden voters were floated a proposal was 1991.

"We've been frugal on how we spend our money, and we've been talking about a levy for four years," Marcus said. "We don't want to have to come back two years from now and ask for more money."

The district has secured $3.1 million in grants and donations in the past decade. The new station on Highway 53, which the district will take possession of in two to three weeks, was mostly funded by a grant and donation.

BNSF Railway donated the property valued at $665,000, while a $1 million federal grant paid for half the building. The district paid $1 million itself from funds that had been saved for a decade.

"That station is an excellent example of how this district operates," said Kramer, adding that the district will spend 36 cents for every dollar put into the station.

More than 6,000 districts applied for the federal grants and Northern Lakes was one of the few districts which received the funding.

"That shows that the federal government recognized we were in the need of funding for a new station," Commissioner Larry Clark said.

Marcus said the district has had to lease vehicles, which isn't as cost effective as purchasing them.

Northern Lakes' current budget is $4.8 million. By comparison, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, a larger but comparable district that serves the Post Falls, Dalton Gardens, Fernan Village and Wolf Lodge areas, is $7.6 million.

Northern Lakes' calls for service have increased 159 percent since 2000 and its population has increased 49 percent during that time.

A future station north of Hayden would be built to serve future growth of the district and improve response times in the district.

"We'd start looking for land right away - through a donation first - if the levy is approved," Marcus said.

The plan calls for the station to be built in 2018, and it would house the administration offices.

The district would still maintain a station in the central part of Hayden, but may consider moving to a different location than its Hayden Avenue site.

Officials say the district has outgrown its Hayden Avenue station (it bought a house next door for offices), there's not enough parking and the city plans to use frontage to widen the street, which will make accessing the road more difficult for engines.

Marcus said the district is trying to be fiscally responsible and budget long term.

"We can't wait for change to happen," he said. "We need to be ready when it gets here. This will allow us to continue to provide the best level of service we can."

For more information on the levy, call 772-5711.

The Northern Lakes Fire District will hold four town hall meetings presenting information on its permanent override levy vote on May 15. The public is invited and will be allowed to ask questions.

• Feb. 22 - 5:30 p.m., Station 1, 125 W. Hayden Ave., Hayden

• March 21 - 5:30 p.m., Golden Spike Estates, 8580 Yosemite, Rathdrum

• April 11 - 5:30 p.m., Station 1

• April 25 - 5:30 p.m., Golden Spike Estates