KUNA, Idaho — A levy aimed at helping the Kuna Fire Department hire more staff and expand its current fire station has failed.
Kuna residents voted 2,387 - 1,784 to reject the $1.2 million measure.
The levy would have increased property owners' taxes by $166.90 a year per $100,000 in assessed value, and would have run through 2022. Kuna currently has the lowest levy rate in the Treasure Valley for fire districts that employ full-time firefighters, according to the fire department.
The department has said that the rapid population growth in Kuna means the number of calls for service are increasing too.
The $1.2 million would have gone towards hiring three to six new firefighter/paramedics, which would allow the fire department to increase their staffing from five firefighters per shift to seven. The new hires would also allow for a two-person ambulance crew and a three-person engine crew to be on staff 24/7.
The levy would also fund a station expansion and replacement of current fire and ambulance apparatus, according to the department. Kuna Fire estimated the cost of a new fully-equipped fire engine at $750,000 and a new ambulance at $225,000.
