Fire District 3 proposition would restore levy rate

Spokane County Fire District 3 is asking voters to restore its previously approved levy of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value in the Aug. 6 election.

Called Proposition 2 on the ballot, the restoration is needed due to a state law commonly referred to as a “levy lid,” in which taxing districts like District 3 can only collect an additional 1 percent of the total taxes it collected the previous year.

The limit has the effect of mathematically reducing the levy rate. It’s almost like an automatic tax decrease for taxpayers — and a decrease in funding for taxing districts.

Inflation rose 1.9 perc...