Voters in the Newman Lake Fire District are again being asked to approve an increase in the amount of property taxes they pay for fire and emergency medical services. The November ballot measure comes after voters rejected two other levies in the last 15 months. Newman Lake Fire Chief Daron Bement says his department is lagging far behind in what it’s allowed to collect in property taxes. “I think there’s a common misconception that if your assessed value goes up 40% that we also receive 40% more in tax revenue, which is not the case because of the 1% lid that is placed on levies," he said. That's the state law that requires taxing districts to get voter approval for tax increases of more than 1% a year. Bement says the department is operating at a loss and needs the extra revenue to allow his hybrid professional-volunteer department to maintain services at the current level.