YAKIMA, Wash.-- The Yakima City Council
decided today they will not move forward with plans for a regional fire
authority.
The authority would have combined Yakima,
Union Gap, and two other fire departments together.
The plan was proposed as a possible
solution to offset increasing fire department costs.
It would have allowed the authority to
collect its own taxes and fees.
However, many council members did not
like the idea of raising taxes.
"It's good for the fire department,
but my job is to keep an eye on the costs and so that's what I had to do here
today," said Council member Sara Bristol.
"There was a lot of educating that
went on, there was a lot of good studying, we have a lot of documentation, and
a lot to build on," said Fire Chief Dave Willson.
The council also talked about improving
the city's fire rating.
The fire chief says if the city can bump
up it's rating, businesses could see their insurance rates drop by ten percent.
That could help attract new business to Yakima.
