HAYDEN - The Northern Lakes Fire District levy proposal went down in flames late Tuesday.

Voters in the district, which serves Hayden, Rathdrum, Hayden Lake, Twin Lakes and Garwood, on Tuesday night soundly turned down a permanent override levy that would have increased the district's budget by $1.6 million per year.

The voting as of 11:50 p.m., with most of the precincts counted, was 743 votes for the proposal and 1,694 against, for 30.49 percent approval. A super majority (67 percent) was needed for the levy to pass. The owner of a $150,000 home would have seen a $44.17 a year hike in taxes or $3.68 per month based on today's property values.

The funding would have allowed the district 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.

Chief Dean Marcus thanked voters for turning out.

"The fact that we were not able to garner the 67 percent majority of votes will not deter us in our continual efforts of finding ways to provide the very best service we can for our residents," he said. "However, now that our 15-year plan will not be obtainable at this time, we will need to regroup and determine priorities of services for our residents. Even though we felt it was essential for the health of Northern Lakes Fire District, our residents have told us that now is not the time to fund this plan."

The funds would not have provided salary increases.

Marcus said some districts already have funding for long-range plans in place and Northern Lakes is trying to get there.

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 had 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.

The district has secured $3.1 million in grants and donations in the past decade. The new station on Highway 53 was mostly funded by a grant and donation.