Evergreen levy 'goes too far'

I hope all Evergreen residents studied the pamplet received by mail before submitting their ballots on the Evergreen fire levy.

I am all for supporting our department, but some of this is a hard pill to swallow. I get the impression our department is striving to become more in line with a full-time fire department, much like you find in most cities. They are obviously moving further and further away from being a volunteer fire department.

I know they receive reimbursement mutual assistance calls, but I see them all over the county, perhaps more than I see them in Evergreen. Maybe it’s because I have lived in other rural parts of the country where volunteer fire departments are actual volunteers. Sure they should be covered financially and medically while on duty, but is this still a volunteer organization or what?

This guaranteed 3 percent cost-of-living increase per year doesn’t stand well with me either. I wish my pensions, for which I worked for many years to earn, guaranteed me a 3 percent cost-of-living increase per year. The pamphlet did not detail how Evergreen compares with tax mills in other parts of the county.

In closing, I’m sure all members of the department are dedicated individuals who strive to improve themselves and are dedicated to serving Evergreen in a professional manner. Everyone would like to work with the newest vehicles, make top wages, and work into the best retirement system available.

However, I think this levy is going too far. —Louis Moore, Kalispell