This proposition would authorize King County to levy an additional regular property tax to replace the region’s current aging emergency public safety radio network, which is used primarily for dispatching public safety, police, fire, emergency medical staff and other first responders from jurisdictions across the County to incidents and for coordination among responders at the site of the incident. The current network was completed in 1997. It would be replaced with a new network to be referred to as the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network (PSERN) that will provide improved coverage, capacity, and reliability.
Levy funds would be used for PSERN capital and transition costs, as defined in Ordinance 17993. Capital costs include planning, design, remodeling, construction, and equipping PSERN, and costs related to the issuance of bonds to help fund the project. Transition costs include operational costs to transition to the new network, costs to establish an entity to own and operate the network after project implementation, and payments to reduce the impact of increased rates for network users and prevent reductions in fire district services from levy prorationing as provided in interlocal agreements between the County and fire districts.
The proposed levy would be authorized for a nine-year period with collection beginning in 2016. During the first year, the tax would be levied at a rate of 7 cents ($0.07) or less per one thousand dollars ($1,000) of assessed valuation on all taxable property within King County. Annual increases for each of the succeeding eight years would be limited to the statutory rate in chapter 84.55 RCW.
For questions about this measure, contact: David Mendel, Emergency Radio System Project Director, 206-263-7942, david.mendel@kingcounty.gov
