Fire Department RFA Proposal

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Q: Didn’t we already vote on this? Why is it back on the ballot?

A: The City of Camas voters rejected this proposal initially, while Washougal voters showed strong support. The difference in this measure passing was around 300 votes. However, because the RFA requires combined approval from both Camas and Washougal, the overall measure didn’t reach the threshold needed to move forward. Running the measure again is part of the original process laid out and is listed in the original proclamation.

While it did not pass in Camas during the last election, the results have prompted a review of the funding impacts in our City. We're now working to revise the funding impacts to present a clearer, more sustainable plan to our residents.

This new ballot measure reflects our ongoing collaboration and our shared goal: to provide strong, reliable fire and emergency services for both communities.

Learn more about the Camas-Washougal Fire Department.

The Camas-Washougal Fire Department provides fire, fire suppression, technical rescue, emergency medical services and ambulance transport to approximately 50,000 people over 20 square miles. Emergency personnel currently respond to over 5,500 calls per year. In 1935, Camas started providing ambulance service to Washougal. The cities began a trial consolidation of the two fire departments in 2011, then agreed to a temporary partnership in 2014 governed by an interlocal agreement. In the agreement, Camas maintains the fire department and Washougal contracts with Camas for emergency services. Both cities have taken steps to make the partnership permanent by asking voters to consider forming a regional fire authority.

There are challenges under the existing agreement.

Camas and Washougal work hard to collaborate under the fire services agreement, but it is not an efficient way to run a fire department. It can complicate the delivery of emergency services at the point where two city councils –14 elected officials – must agree with each other. In addition, property owners in Camas and Washougal pay for fire service through the general property tax levy paid to the cities. As costs for emergency services increase, it reduces revenue the cities have for police, parks, streets and other services.

The RFA is fairer and more cost-effective for taxpayers.

Camas and Washougal are asking voters to consider forming a regional fire authority (RFA) during the November 4, 2025 General Election. An RFA is an independent agency to provide fire/EMS with one governing board representing residents in both cities collectively. Property owners would pay the RFA directly for services eliminating the cities as the intermediary. Most importantly, property owners in both cities would pay the same rate for service of $1.05 per $1,000. This equal investment brings fairness to the taxes we all pay for fire service and means there can be collaborative, long-term emergency services planning for both communities as they grow. Long term stability in the RFA ensures that future investments (such as stations, apparatus and equipment) are more cost-efficient. Additionally, an RFA is directly accountable to its taxpayers and is governed by locally-elected representatives.

The RFA provides a higher level of service for residents.

Higher call volumes are impacting our response capacity and require more emergency personnel. The RFA would provide three-person engine companies (instead of two), enabling the first arriving engine to enter a burning building to rescue a victim instead of waiting for additional emergency personnel to arrive. It also provides more personnel in case of any emergency, such as wildland fires, motor vehicle accidents, technical rescues, multiple patient scenes, hazardous spills, and school emergencies. The RFA allows for saving money for fire engines, other emergency apparatus and equipment. It also would waive the co-pay for ambulance transports to area hospitals and allow us to seek a better community risk rating to help lower homeowner insurance premiums.

Here are the numbers:

The RFA would fund emergency services for all property owners at $1.05 per $1,000 of assessed property value beginning January 1, 2027

In response, on January 1, 2027 both the City of Camas and the City of Washougal will reduce the property tax levy of each city by the amount of money that they would contribute to the cost of the fire department if there were no RFA. Essentially, if the RFA is approved each city will no longer have a fire department expense obligation, so each city will reduce their property tax levy by the amount of that obligation.

Camas 2027 – The City of Camas estimates a property tax levy of $1.90 per $1,000 of a home's assessed value, which funds essential services such as fire, police, streets, parks & recreation, and the library. The proposed Regional Fire Authority (RFA) levy is $1.05 per $1,000. To offset this, the City of Camas plans to reduce its existing property tax levy by $0.71 per $1,000 of a home’s assessed value. This results in a net increase of only $0.34 per $1,000 for Camas homeowners. For a Camas home valued at $650,000*, this equates to an estimated annual tax increase of $221.00 a year or $18.41 per month for fire service in 2027.

Washougal 2027 – The City of Washougal estimates a property tax levy of $1.48 per $1,000 of a home's assessed value, which funds essential services such as fire, police, streets, and parks & recreation. The proposed Regional Fire Authority (RFA) levy is $1.05 per $1,000. To offset this, the City of Washougal plans to reduce its existing property tax levy by $0.88 per $1,000 of a home’s assessed value. This results in a net increase of only $0.17 per $1,000 for Washougal homeowners. For a Washougal home valued at $583,000*, this equates to an estimated annual tax increase of $99.11 a year or $8.26 per month for fire service in 2027.

  • *Calculations are the average assessed value of homes and not market value.
  • All amounts are estimated based on current data as of 2025.
  • Calculated rates per $1000 of Assessed Value are estimated based on the most recent certified assessed valuation by the County Assessor.
  • The difference in cost increases between the cities is a result of the different total assessed value of each city and the formulas defined in the interlocal agreement. Under the RFA, all property owners will pay the same rate of $1.05/$1,000.
  • Both cities have a levy for Emergency Medical Service. When these levies expire, the property owners would pay the RFA directly for this service.
  • Voters in Camas and Washougal each approved a bond to build a new station within their city. The cost of these stations will be on their respective property tax statements until the debt is retired.

Q: Didn’t we already vote on this? Why is it back on the ballot?

A: The City of Camas voters rejected this proposal initially, while Washougal voters showed strong support. The difference in this measure passing was around 300 votes. However, because the RFA requires combined approval from both Camas and Washougal, the overall measure didn’t reach the threshold needed to move forward. Running the measure again is part of the original process laid out and is listed in the original proclamation.

While it did not pass in Camas during the last election, the results have prompted a review of the funding impacts in our City. We're now working to revise the funding impacts to present a clearer, more sustainable plan to our residents.

This new ballot measure reflects our ongoing collaboration and our shared goal: to provide strong, reliable fire and emergency services for both communities.

Learn more about the Camas-Washougal Fire Department.

The Camas-Washougal Fire Department provides fire, fire suppression, technical rescue, emergency medical services and ambulance transport to approximately 50,000 people over 20 square miles. Emergency personnel currently respond to over 5,500 calls per year. In 1935, Camas started providing ambulance service to Washougal. The cities began a trial consolidation of the two fire departments in 2011, then agreed to a temporary partnership in 2014 governed by an interlocal agreement. In the agreement, Camas maintains the fire department and Washougal contracts with Camas for emergency services. Both cities have taken steps to make the partnership permanent by asking voters to consider forming a regional fire authority.

There are challenges under the existing agreement.

Camas and Washougal work hard to collaborate under the fire services agreement, but it is not an efficient way to run a fire department. It can complicate the delivery of emergency services at the point where two city councils –14 elected officials – must agree with each other. In addition, property owners in Camas and Washougal pay for fire service through the general property tax levy paid to the cities. As costs for emergency services increase, it reduces revenue the cities have for police, parks, streets and other services.

The RFA is fairer and more cost-effective for taxpayers.

Camas and Washougal are asking voters to consider forming a regional fire authority (RFA) during the November 4, 2025 General Election. An RFA is an independent agency to provide fire/EMS with one governing board representing residents in both cities collectively. Property owners would pay the RFA directly for services eliminating the cities as the intermediary. Most importantly, property owners in both cities would pay the same rate for service of $1.05 per $1,000. This equal investment brings fairness to the taxes we all pay for fire service and means there can be collaborative, long-term emergency services planning for both communities as they grow. Long term stability in the RFA ensures that future investments (such as stations, apparatus and equipment) are more cost-efficient. Additionally, an RFA is directly accountable to its taxpayers and is governed by locally-elected representatives.

The RFA provides a higher level of service for residents.

Higher call volumes are impacting our response capacity and require more emergency personnel. The RFA would provide three-person engine companies (instead of two), enabling the first arriving engine to enter a burning building to rescue a victim instead of waiting for additional emergency personnel to arrive. It also provides more personnel in case of any emergency, such as wildland fires, motor vehicle accidents, technical rescues, multiple patient scenes, hazardous spills, and school emergencies. The RFA allows for saving money for fire engines, other emergency apparatus and equipment. It also would waive the co-pay for ambulance transports to area hospitals and allow us to seek a better community risk rating to help lower homeowner insurance premiums.

Here are the numbers:

The RFA would fund emergency services for all property owners at $1.05 per $1,000 of assessed property value beginning January 1, 2027

In response, on January 1, 2027 both the City of Camas and the City of Washougal will reduce the property tax levy of each city by the amount of money that they would contribute to the cost of the fire department if there were no RFA. Essentially, if the RFA is approved each city will no longer have a fire department expense obligation, so each city will reduce their property tax levy by the amount of that obligation.

Camas 2027 – The City of Camas estimates a property tax levy of $1.90 per $1,000 of a home's assessed value, which funds essential services such as fire, police, streets, parks & recreation, and the library. The proposed Regional Fire Authority (RFA) levy is $1.05 per $1,000. To offset this, the City of Camas plans to reduce its existing property tax levy by $0.71 per $1,000 of a home’s assessed value. This results in a net increase of only $0.34 per $1,000 for Camas homeowners. For a Camas home valued at $650,000*, this equates to an estimated annual tax increase of $221.00 a year or $18.41 per month for fire service in 2027.

Washougal 2027 – The City of Washougal estimates a property tax levy of $1.48 per $1,000 of a home's assessed value, which funds essential services such as fire, police, streets, and parks & recreation. The proposed Regional Fire Authority (RFA) levy is $1.05 per $1,000. To offset this, the City of Washougal plans to reduce its existing property tax levy by $0.88 per $1,000 of a home’s assessed value. This results in a net increase of only $0.17 per $1,000 for Washougal homeowners. For a Washougal home valued at $583,000*, this equates to an estimated annual tax increase of $99.11 a year or $8.26 per month for fire service in 2027.

  • *Calculations are the average assessed value of homes and not market value.
  • All amounts are estimated based on current data as of 2025.
  • Calculated rates per $1000 of Assessed Value are estimated based on the most recent certified assessed valuation by the County Assessor.
  • The difference in cost increases between the cities is a result of the different total assessed value of each city and the formulas defined in the interlocal agreement. Under the RFA, all property owners will pay the same rate of $1.05/$1,000.
  • Both cities have a levy for Emergency Medical Service. When these levies expire, the property owners would pay the RFA directly for this service.
  • Voters in Camas and Washougal each approved a bond to build a new station within their city. The cost of these stations will be on their respective property tax statements until the debt is retired.

Page last updated: 14 Aug 2025, 01:26 PM