“EMERGENCY SERVICES OR LIBRARIES”

A group seeking funding through taxes for the creation of libraries in rural unserved areas touches a nerve with a Cedardal, WA fire station which is also funded by taxes.

County library effort gets static from rural firefighters
[Skagit Valley Herald 10 apr '05]

For a few days last week, the reader board outside Fire District No. 3’s Cedardale station, south of Mount Vernon, read “EMERGENCY SERVICES OR LIBRARIES.”

That was before enforcement officers from the state Public Disclosure Commission called the district and suggested that the sign come down before an official complaint was made about political advertising on public property.

The message touched upon an issue that has divided the county’s fire commissioners, who already have the ability to impose property taxes, from proponents of a rural library district who are seeking the ability to impose taxes of their own.