King County Elections

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King County Fire Protection District No. 44

Proposition No. 1
Levy of General Tax for Maintenance and Operations

The Board of King County Fire Protection District No. 44 adopted Resolution No. 13-484 concerning a proposition to adequately finance maintenance and operation costs. This proposition would authorize the District to levy an excess property tax on all taxable property within the District beginning with collection in 2014 and continuing for three years thereafter to be used for the support of fire protection and emergency medical services, facilities, maintenance, staffing and operations. The levy amount for each of the four years would be $650,000 with an approximate rate each year of $0.31 per $1,000 of assessed valuation (the actual rate will be based on assessed values).

Should this proposition be approved?

Yes

Explanatory statement

If approved by the voters, the Fire District will be authorized to levy a maintenance and operations excess levy in the sum of $650,000.00 per year to be collected in 2014 through 2017. Such levy will be in addition to the District’s regular and EMS tax levies for a temporary four-year period. Based on current assessed property valuations the District estimates that the tax levy rate necessary to generate these funds each year will be approximately $0.31 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. In subsequent years the levy rate will decrease if assessed property values increase.

Declining assessed property values have caused the District’s revenue to drop $1,850,151.00 from 2008 to 2013. During this same period, the cost of specialized equipment, personnel training, and supplies required by various laws, codes and standards have increased. Due to the decrease in revenues, the District will not be able to maintain current staffing and service levels within the limitations of the District’s regular tax levy. The proposed maintenance and operations levy funds will be used to maintain service levels and retain firefighters.

If the levy is approved, the additional maximum tax per $100,000.00 assessed valuation is estimated not to exceed approximately $31.00 each year or an additional $2.58 per month for fire protection and emergency medical services.

For additional questions regarding this measure contact: Greg Smith - Fire Chief 253-735-0284 • info@kcfd44.org

Statement in favor

Fire District 44 has never requested a levy of this type. The District has met our needs with the statutory funds based on property value. Due to the 39.8% decline in assessed valuation of property in our district, the district now needs to ask us for support. This need will be short-term (four years) as property values are expected to increase.

As your neighbors, we encourage you to vote "YES" for this levy. The Fire District has been there for us when loved ones have had heart attacks, when our children have sustained serious injuries, when our homes have been consumed with fire--we need to support the district now so that they will continue to provide the level of service we need.

Many could share a personal story of how the District 44's response has impacted our lives. We are blessed with a district that exceeds county and national average in heart attack survival rates--this is due to response time, skill and training. It is also critical that the eight schools in our district have timely emergency response from trained professionals.

We ask you to please vote "YES" and mail in your ballot!

Citizens for Fire District 44

Statement submitted by: Linda S. Cowan, Monroe Shropshire, and Karen Weiman

Statement in opposition

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.

Requirements for measure passage

60% Yes vote with a minimum number of 2,390 yes votes (Washington Constitution, Art. VII, sec. 2(a))

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Contact Elections

Email: elections@kingcounty.gov

Phone: 206-296-VOTE (8683)

TTY: Relay 711

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