Proposed Annexation of the City of Blaine to Fire District #13
 

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 What the ballot looks like   Fire 13 Taxes Up      Fire 13's State Audit    Blaine Fire Station Property


Fire 3 Web Site ( Lynden Area )          Fire 5 (Point Roberts)          Fire 13 (North Whatcom?)
Read the discussion about  N. W. F.& R. on Fire 3 and Fire 5's sites

The Bellingham Herald Editorial
(Thank You Bellingham Herald)
 

4
This is a letter to The Bellingham Herald form a Blaine resident. Follow the links for the facts. Pat A

This letter is in reference to the letter writer of Jan. 29 and to the brochure he is distributing about the annexation of Blaine and Fire District No. 13. His statements that "poor bookkeeping was in favor of the city" is inaccurate. The audit report clearly indicates that neither the city of Blaine nor District 13 benefited.

The 22 percent increase in fire taxes were the result of a one-time increase after several years of no increases. With or without annexation, both Blaine and District 13 will pay that same amount.

The city fire marshal position is a fire officer and will continue to be. Outside the city limits, the area is served by the county fire marshal.

The statement of money flowing primarily to Blaine: Give me a break! You've got to be kidding. There is nothing to substantiate this comment. Each will continue to "own" their own equipment and stations.

We checked the Web sites listed by the letter writer and found no answers to the ambiguous questions and issues that he raised in his letter to the editor and brochure he distributed.

With annexation we all would have solid, long-term planning to provide the best services and protection. There would be no difference in costs, yet we would obtain twice the protection. Let's move forward with that thought in mind.

Chet and Kathy Renskers

3
Steve had a question on how the property tax was figured. He had it figured that the  property tax for Fire 13 went up 11.5 %. The tax rate went up perhaps that much. The actual property taxes went up 22%. When figuring Blaine's  the same way as Fire 13's we get the following.
 

Blaine                 
Basic Property Tax 2002   2003   increase

      as percentage
 Amount Collected   674,314   710,020   35,706 5%  
 

This number

      

This number divide by

   

2
Well, we have not had much of a discussion here. Monday morning we woke up to the fact that all the Vote No on Blaine Fire 13 signs placed in the Birch Bay area of Fire 13 were missing. If you saw any one taking them down and scurrying away with them, you can e-mail the sheriff with any thing you saw. Just click on the case number. 04A02123 for the e-mail link to the sheriff.  At 2:00AM  Tuesday the replacement signs were still there.
Patrick Alesse


1
Thanks, Patrick E.,  for opening the discussion.

I do not get what is going to be accomplished by this fire annexation.  My impression is that it is a shell game so that the mismanagement can be blamed on someone else or said to be a result of the changes in financial practices or management. 

Patrick E.