North Whidbey Fire and Rescue is facing an uphill battle to get voters to approve a 35-cent levy lift on the Aug. 1 primary ballot, especially after state lawmakers passed a plan to fully fund education by increasing property taxes statewide.

Voters in the district also get the chance to whittle down the number of people running for one of the fire commission seats.

Even with the state’s impending tax increase, people who live in the district should approve the measure, which would be the first fire levy increase since 1989.

If it passes, it will amount to an extra $70 a year for the owner of a home worth $200,000.

A lot has changed since 1989, especially the sheer number of 911 calls. And keeping the fire department adequately funded doesn’t just make the district safer, it will help maintain or improve the district’s insurance rating, which means lower premiums for homeowners.

There’s a lot of interest in the levy lift and the commissioner race partly because of a debate within the organization about the future.

Some say that Chief Mike Brown is moving the department toward one dominated by career firefighters than volunteers.

That doesn’t sit well with some of the volunteer firefighters, and those who see career firefighters as an unnecessarily expensive.

Brown says volunteers will always be the heart and soul of the department, but that their ranks need to be augmented by a modest number of career firefighters.

The proposed levy lift is for capital expenses, however, specifically fire trucks that need to be replaced and stations that need repairs.

If the levy lift passes, the board of fire commissioners should budget prudently and be as frugal as possible with the taxpayers’ money.

Don’t hire more staff or make purchases unless absolutely crucial to public safety.

Voters should also consider casting ballots for Gerald Smith and Bruce Carman. Smith is a Navy firefighter who volunteers with the district; he’s young and new to politics. He’s critical of some of the chief’s decisions and doesn’t want to see a move toward career staff. He would bring a new perspective to the board.

Carman was a fire commissioner for 20 years and can offer valuable experience and insight.