Mail-in ballots for the increased assessment proposed for the Higgins Fire District will be sent out to property owners next Tuesday or Wednesday. And so the information campaign is being stepped up. Public Information Officer Pete Marchinek says they’re staffing tables to answer questions this weekend and the following weekend….

click to listen to Pete Marchinek

Marchinek says he’s heard a number of good comments regarding Measure “V”…

click to listen to Pete Marchinek

This is the third time the Higgins District has tried to increase its fire protection fee, which hasn’t gone up in 35 years. This proposal would raise the current annual fee of 25 dollars to 141 dollars. Marchinek says grant money that’s funded current staffing will expire in March of next year, with no prospects for renewal at this time. If this effort fails, one station would have to be closed and six firefighters laid off. Results of Measure “V” are expected to be announced on August 25th. The information tables will be set up Saturday, from 9am to 1pm, Sunday, from 10am to 2pm, and the following Saturday, from 9am to 1pm. That’ll be in front of CVS Pharmacy and the Holiday Market in the Lake of the Pines and Higgins Corner area.