Washington state Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti wants his office to look beyond the numbers — and appreciate the tangible impact they have on local communities.
Take, for instance, the 2023 Rosenbauer Pumper Tender, purchased by Lewis County Fire District 15 through the state’s LOCAL program offering low-interest loans to municipalities.
Pellicciotti stopped by Winlock on Friday, Nov. 7, to see the Rosenbauer and main fire station that has been steadily upgrading since the 70s, back when its crew consisted solely of volunteers.
The Rosenbauer, known as Engine 15-1, features a 2,000-gallon water tank, front bumper mounted nozzle, upper-mounted deck nozzle and a 1250-gpm (gallons per minute) pump.
More noticeable to the average citizen is its customized front grille painted with the American flag, a touch that has become a trademark for Winlock Fire & Rescue. (The fire department has another truck sporting an American flag grille.)
On Engine 15-1, “Winlock” is displayed front and center.
“So if you're driving this truck down the road and the lights and sirens are activated, Winlock will actually flash,” Lieutenant and EMT Jarryd Forler said.
The pumper tender isn’t the only vehicle purchased through the state-offered loan program. District 15 also bought a Ford ambulance manufactured by Braun.
During his visit, Pellicciotti spoke about the program’s ability to bring more money back to local agencies and, ultimately, the citizens who benefit from lower taxes.
“When you can use our state's good credit ratings to be able to finance things — especially in more rural areas — it has a huge impact,” Pellicciotti said.
For the treasurer, visiting the Winlock fire station drives the point home.
“It's just great to be able to physically see things and then be able to communicate back with the folks at the office who are making it come together,” Pellicciotti said.
District 15 Secretary Amy Archer put it simply: Without this kind of financing, the district wouldn’t be able to afford the vehicle.
In a statement posted to the district’s website, Fire Chief Richard Underdahl said the department is always searching for the “best bang for the buck.”
“We recognize the loyalty of our constituency and strive to stretch every hard-earned dollar to maximize the service we can provide,” Underdahl wrote.
Program awareness is critical, though, and one of the reasons Pellicciotti likes to travel around the state to places like Winlock.
“The biggest impact that the program has is actually in communities where they're least likely to know about options like this,” Pellicciotti said. “And so that's why I appreciate the opportunity to kind of spread the word of how we can get more money back to the people instead of losing money to bank profits.”
Archer and the treasurer spoke about the “continuing good” that comes from providing local municipalities alternative ways to finance large purchases like the Rosenbauer, which cost $745,000 and is paid for over 10 years, plus interest.
“It's not just a truck,” Pellicciotti said, “it's over a thousand calls that this truck goes out to and the lifesaving resources that it provides to a local community that otherwise might not be able to happen — or happen in a more efficient way.”
Not only that, the savings from low-interest rates create “ripple effects” that lead to more services at lower costs to the community.
Archer called the Rosenbauer a 20-year investment for the station. In other words, District 15 can expect to use its truck for another 10 years after finishing its payments.
“Those numbers matter, and the interest payments matter,” Pellicciotti added. “And whatever you can do to get those costs down for local taxpayers, again, and then that money's going to more truck, more services, fewer payments to banks and Wall Street profits.”
“So that, to me, is winning,” he said.
“And the community does appreciate it,” Archer said. “They really do. They like seeing it.”
District 15 isn’t the only county fire department participating in the state’s LOCAL program. District 1 began financing a fire engine in 2022, according to the treasurer’s office.
District 10 purchased an ambulance in 2021 through the program.
And last year, the Chehalis School District purchased three school buses for $607,500.
