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Ballot measures

August 1, 2023 Primary and Special Election

King County Fire Protection District No. 40

Proposition No. 1
Property Tax Levy for Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services

The Board of King County Fire Protection District No. 40 adopted Resolution No. 577 concerning a proposition to maintain and adequately fund District operations.

This proposition authorizes the District to restore its regular property tax levy to $1.00 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation to be levied in 2023 and authorizes annual adjustments by the greater of 1% or the annual CPI-W for Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue as reported in June of the levy year for each of the five succeeding years. The dollar amount of the levy in 2029 shall serve as the base for subsequent levy limitations as provided by Chapter 84.55 RCW.

Should this proposition be:

Approved

Rejected


King County Fire Protection District No. 40 (“District”), serving the citizens of Fairwood, is placing a multi-year lid lift proposition on the August 1 primary ballot. The District’s $1.00/$1,000 regular levy rate has fallen to approximately $.68/$1,000 due to statutory limitations. Passage of this proposition would re-authorize the District’s regular levy rate to $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, in order to sustain fire protection and emergency medical services (EMS) to those within the District’s service area.

 

Re-authorization of the regular levy rate of $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, for collection in 2024, will be coupled with annual increases by the greater of 1% or the annual CPI-W for Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue as reported in June of the levy year. This will maintain an effective level of service. The dollar amount of the levy in 2029 would be used to calculate future levy increase limits.

 

If approved by voters, this levy lid lift would result in an increase in property taxes of $194.46 per year ($16.20 per month) for a $600,000 median-value home. This increase will almost be entirely offset by a reduction in the fire benefit charge beginning in 2024.

King County Fire District #40 continues to provide incredible, cost-effective, fire protection and emergency medical services to the Fairwood community. Now they are asking for our support to stabilize the long-term funding of these services. 

 

The successful passage of Proposition 1 will restore our funding to the prior voter-approved level of $1.00 per thousand of assessed property value, so that they can continue providing the outstanding service which our community deserves. This will also allow the KCFD #40 commissioners to reduce the current amount of the Fire Benefit Charge (FBC).

 

Failure of Prop 1 will negatively impact the fire and life safety services they are able to provide to the citizens that our firefighters reliably and proudly serve.

 

Our fire district currently staffs one fire engine and one aid car at Fairwood’s fire station #17 on SE Pertovitsky RD. We believe that this level of service is yet one more reason why we love to live, go to school, work, and play in Fairwood. Please vote “Yes” on Prop 1 and keep Fairwood safe into the future.

 

Statement submitted by: Craig Soucy, Elynne Gardner, Craig864@comcast.net

No statement submitted.

Statements in favor of and in opposition to a ballot measure are submitted by committees appointed by the jurisdiction. No persons came forward to serve on the committee and to write a statement in opposition. If you would like to be involved with a committee in the future please contact the jurisdiction.

Simple majority (RCW 84.55.050)

For questions about this measure, contact: Eric Quinn, Legal Counsel, (253) 590-6628, ericquinn@firehouselawyer2.com

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