2023 Budget
The final SVFD Budget was brought forward to the Board of Commissioners for a first hearing Monday, October 24, 2022. The Board of Fire Commissioners held a second hearing on Monday, November 14, 2022 and voted to pass the proposed 2023 Program Budget. The passing of this budget ensures the SVFD is in line with keeping public trust and honoring your safety.
With the release of the budget, we are embarking on work throughout the 2023 year that is fiduciarily responsible as we continue to live in pandemic conditions and directly relates to our Capital and Strategic Plans. This budget in addition to the Levy dollars that were supported in the 2019 vote outline and confirm our priorities for 2023.
With this budget, we will continue to make the Spokane Valley Fire Department more sustainable to the people we serve, accountable to their expectations and aligned with their voter approved priorities from the passing of the 2019 Levy.
We are committed to continuing progress on rapid response times and public education of life saving techniques such as “Stop the Bleed” and “CPR.” The SVFD is the only accredited Fire Department in Eastern Washington and maintains a WSRB Rating of 2, one of the top ratings in the nation. The SVFD is also nationally known for their PIT Crew CPR that additionally has a save rate that is almost twice the national average. As part of the 2023 budget, SVFD will conduct two recruit academies.
These public safety investments combined with the levy our citizens approved in 2019 keep our community safer.
New Maintenance Facility opened 2023
New Engine 8 Pushed in 2023
Planned Capital Projects: 2020-2023
In addition to day-to-day operations, the 2019 M&O Replacement Levy will pay for the following capital projects:
- Replacement of aging fire vehicles – continue replacing emergency response vehicles as they reach the end of their useful life
- Equipment – essential emergency equipment including defibrillators, thermal imaging cameras, spreaders (‘jaws of life’) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs)
- Sullivan Fire Station #5 Remodel – completion of minor renovations include the addition of a lobby to provide citizens with a 24/7 safe zone, a feature in all other SVFD fire stations
- Replace aging Maintenance Facility – built 25 years ago, vehicle service volume now exceeds the 2.5 service bays currently available in our maintenance and training facility. We need to double the size to meet our vehicle service needs for the next 20-25 years. Our plan is to finish construction of a new maintenance facility in a different location which will free up space to expand our existing training facility
- Replace aging Training Facility – Construction will begin on a new 12,500 sq. ft. Training Center which will serve SVFD as a modern and up to date facility to meet the training requirements of today’s firefighters. Currently, SVFD is served by a 32-year-old, 2,000 sq. ft. training classroom with two offices, two bathrooms and one shower. With an increase of staffing from 80 to 234 personnel over the last 30 years, the current training facility is vastly inadequate to accommodate the growth and changing training requirements. With the rapid growth of this area, the new modern Training Center, appropriately sized for today’s needs, will allow SVFD personnel to maintain and continue to grow in their critical profession. The Training Center will be built east of the new Maintenance Facility
- Growth – based on growth trends and projections, an ARU (quick response vehicle), a ladder truck, and the firefighters to operate them will be needed in the next four years to continue to provide exceptional service to our community.
New Engine 4 Pushed in 2023
