North Bench Volunteer Fire Department Town Hall Event

North Bench Volunteer Fire Department Town Hall Event

September 15, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., Station 1, 64464 Highway 2 East, 3 Mile, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, United States, 83805

As many already know, membership dues payments continue to remain at a level that is not sustainable to support the operations and needs of the district, remaining at less than 50% of our total membership paying.

Budget review and consideration of district needs have painted a clear picture; we are nearing a turning point in the way the district collects funding to remain operational. This is your opportunity as a member to participate in the outcome and the impact this has on you.

What does this look like? Continued lack of voluntary membership funding has failed to meet the district’s needs for decades. It is not a stable means of funding that can be counted on and has consistently failed to keep up with the growth of our district. The historically unpopular option of forming a taxing district is shaping up to be the logical option, ensuring all residents and businesses pay their fair share. Other options, should the membership fail to agree on a tax-based funding option, leave the district residents and businesses open to skyrocketing insurance rates should there be no fire service

coverage, or possible take-over from a neighboring tax district that will implement that districts tax rates. We are in control of our future, for now. This decision and what happens in the near future is up to our membership.

The purpose of the Town Hall meeting will be to discuss and share what we know so far, and field questions from our membership. The Board of Directors’ primary responsibility is to ensure the district maintains the funding necessary to provide emergency services with the highest capabilities, professionalism, and dependability. The reality of the issue at hand, is foresight into the finances of the district, growth, and proper upkeep of the district’s assets and personnel, have not been priority number 1.

Failure to address consistent budgetary shortfalls has created an “end of the rope” situation. The Board of Directors has identified what is coming, and asks for your participation in this matter, as the decision is ultimately yours to make, and will be carried out by our directors.

Information available concerning a taxing district is preliminary, and we will continue to obtain additional information concerning the formation of a taxing district over the coming months.

We look forward to engaging with you at the Town Hall meeting, and taking your input, questions and suggestions.

Respectfully on behalf of the Board of Directors,

Jim Hill

President, Board of Directors

NBVFD