BONNERS FERRY — Boundary County commissioners have rejected a North Bench Volunteer Fire District request to move to a taxing district from its current dues format.

The commissioners' approval was needed to put the measure before voters on the upcoming November ballot.

Commissioners voted unanimously to deny the request, citing both financial concerns posed by existing debt and "mission creep" posed by response to wildland fires. Under Idaho Code, such debt cannot be passed from one entity to another and would have had to be addressed if commissioners had voted to send the measure to voters in November.

The district has a current operating budget of about $225,000, primarily from membership dues. However, only half of the residents within the district's boundary pay their dues.

That compares to the estimated $440,000 needed to operate properly, NBVFD board chairman Jim Hill told county commissioners. Among its expenses are firefighting, apparatus maintenance, structure upkeep and the salary of the district's one full-time employee.

"The fire department has chronically been underfunded since its inception," Hill told the board. "Looking at our apparatus and equipment, most recently at the Turner Fire, we had an engine that had to be towed out after the incident. We barely made it down there."

Added to the district's challenges is the pending need to vacate Station 1, located at the Boundary County Airport, due to FAA regulations.

While the district has land nearby on U.S. 95, there are no funds to build a station, Hill said.

The district's Station 2, located in the Camp 9 area, has serious heating issues, which causes problems in the winter keeping equipment from freezing.

The district currently has roughly $280,000 in debt, the majority from the purchase of the U.S. 95 property and the remaining $80,000 from the purchase of two fire tenders.

In his presentation, Hill said NBVFD board members said the decision to pursue a taxing district seemed more fair than the current dues structure.

"We believe that the taxing district would be more fair to everyone because everyone would pay their share," Hill said.

Critics of the plan argue that current billing and membership structures are skewed, noting that past boards were able to operate within the existing financial parameters. Critics also noted the district's debt connected to the U.S. 95 property purchase as a reason for their decision not to support a taxing district.

Others questioned the district's lack of a multi-year fiscal plan, staffing structure and transparency regarding NBVFD's financial picture. Among those speaking against the proposal was former board member Linda Fioravanti, who said an expansion of the parcels assessed a membership fee has inflated the appearance of nonpayment of membership fees.

"If it was contiguous to your house, you just paid your $125," she said. "The new board took that away and every single parcel number is taxed."

The result is that property owners with 10 acres or more are charged accordingly, she said.

"If you're a homeowner or a property owner and you own 10 acres, and you divide that 10 acres by one-acre lots, each lot now has a separate parcel number," Fioravanti said. "You're (going to be charged) $85 per parcel, which would be $850 for your 10 acres for fire protection. That's ridiculous. So when they say 50% of the people are not paying, that's why they're saying 50% of the people aren't paying."

Other critics said they saw little value in paying for a service they get little benefit from due to the distance or lack of services in their area.

"What, if anything, would change for us if we went to a taxing district," said one woman. "That is my question and it's been my question all along. Why would we pay more to receive the same zero benefit that we get now?"

Those supporting the proposal said the current dues structure is problematic since roughly half of those living within the district's boundaries do not pay them. That leaves NBVFD unable to build new stations or purchase new fire equipment. Others said additional funds are badly needed to purchase personal protective equipment, calling some of the existing gear "below satisfactory."

Others said the current system is on the verge of collapse due to debt and unpaid dues, saying a taxing district would create a more viable organization.

"Let's shore it up, make it a viable organization, and I bet we'll get great people who want to live in a beautiful area like this, want to be involved in that," said Chuck Newhouse.

Saying he neither supported the proposal nor was against it, resident Lee Pinkerton said he would be in favor of putting it on the ballot to gauge the public's feelings, noting the lack of dues being paid has hurt the district.

In response, Hill said some of the current challenges facing the district resulted from past board decisions, adding the current board has discussed selling a portion of the U.S. 95 property to help resolve existing debt.