The recent failure of the levy increase for Fire District 38 residents indicates a more deeply rooted problem than just the denounced ballot measure. The failure indicates a disconnect between the desires of the commissioners and the tax payers whom they represent.

Taxpayers were not willing to finance the request proposed by the commissioners of Fire District 38. The request included funding for increased staffing levels, equipment replacement and a new station. With the utmost respect for those commissioners, taxpayers were being pressured to deliver on all three.

It was painfully clear from the beginning that this substantial levy increase was an all-or-nothing proposition. Our elected officials, commissioners Ron Pedee, Steve Parsons and Chris Dahline, seemed at odds with the desires of their constituents. There may even be a question as to who, in their eyes, is the constituency – firefighters or the taxpayers footing the bill.

So who do the commissioners represent?

That answer is simple. They represent the taxpayer and have to hold the taxpayers’ and residents’ concerns above all others.

Fire funding tends to be an emotional issue. If your house is on fire or there is another emergency, you want anything and everything quickly, to take care of the problem. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t that simple when we are all footing the bill.

Those who question the funding of emergency services are not saying they are willing to trade lives for a few dollars, they are exercising their constitutional obligation to question our elected officials and make sure they are representing our best interests.

I don’t know how many times I personally have heard the argument that I do not support emergency services when questioning the purchase of a new fire engine, additional funding or a new station. Heck, in the perfect world my fire station, the one I help support, would have the latest and greatest of everything, but that’s not reality.

So here are a few suggestions for the commissioners of Fire District 38 and a few issues we all need to ponder to bridge some level of trust in the community:

* Ask us to support funding that sustains current levels of service. That’s clear and understandable, but don’t muck it up with a bunch of other requests.

* Separately ask us to support funding new equipment, possibly even with specific apparatus in mind.

* Separately ask us to support funding a new fire station and highlight the deficiencies in the current station. I know the conditions are atrocious at the North Bend station, but in light of the current economic conditions, maybe it isn’t a fair question to ask right now. Besides, let’s wait and see what level of funding the city of North Bend is going to contribute.

* Consciously balance the question of funding and affordability with absolutely essential needs. All governmental agencies are only funding things that are absolutely essential, or at least, that is the desire of the voters as echoed in several tax limiting initiatives. There may be occasions where this is at odds with our contracting fire agency, or a firefighters’ union, or even your own desires, but remember, it’s the desires of your constituents, not those other organizations that need to be listened to.

Another thought for the general population is this: There is no doubt that our fire commissioners are highly qualified to serve in the positions for which they were elected. They all have extensive firefighting experience and have worked in the government sector for years. Their concerns are genuine for both the firefighters at our stations and the voters.

But, in light of the fact that they are firefighters, there may be a conflict of interest when balancing the budget and the desires of the agencies. Even if there is only a perception of bias, that is enough to thwart the best of intentions. What is the answer? I’m not sure, but here is an idea.

The Fire District 38 commissioners should appoint a group of community advisors. The advisors can be an unbiased set of eyes and ears to help shape policy and fund mechanisms. The idea was broached once before when residents were trying to decide whether we should contract for services or start our own agency. That question seems to be behind us but a group of non-fire related advisors will provide another level of credibility to a difficult dilemma.

And a word to those discontent with the direction of the current commissioners … run for office. The process by which commissioners are elected isn’t run behind closed doors. I have said many times, if you like to whine about the process or people but don’t want to get involved – shut up!

Wow, that was blunt, but I recently found out from a personality survey done on me at a conference that my most specific character trait is that I am blunt.

Let’s put the failure behind us and move forward. I think the support is there to give firefighters what they need to do their job, but how it is presented is as important as the question itself.