Due to the failure of the Fire Benefit Charge in August, Maple Valley Fire & Life Safety, serving the citizens of the Greater Maple Valley area, is placing a multi-year lid lift proposition on the November 7, 2017 ballot. If approved, this proposition would authorize the property tax levy rate to remain at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for 2018, coupled with maintaining the rate of $1.50 per $1000 of assessed valuation over the five subsequent years. The proposition is presented to allow voters to override the limitations imposed by Initiative 747, which would otherwise limit total property tax revenue to 1% over the previous year’s revenue, regardless of the authorized dollar rate limitation of $1.50, which the voters approved in 2001.

State law now allows fire districts to propose multi-year lid lifts to voters. This proposition meets the requirements of Initiative 747, that any revenue increase greater than 1%, over the previous year, be approved by the voters. This is a reauthorization of the district’s lawful funding level of $1.50. The dollar amount of the levy in 2023 would be used to calculate future year’s levy amounts.

Approval of this proposition would allow the District to maintain the current level of services. Rejection of this proposition would lead to the annual loss of at least 18% or $1,672,623.66 of revenue. This loss of revenue would require significant cutbacks in critical services, closing station(s) and potential elimination of special services such as rescue teams.