King County logo

Ballot measures

v1.0.0.1

Ballot measures

April 23, 2019 Special Election

Woodinville Fire & Rescue

Proposition No. 1
Continuation of Benefit Charge

Shall Woodinville Fire & Rescue be authorized to continue voter-authorized benefit charges each year for six consecutive years, not to exceed an amount equal to sixty percent of its operating budget, and be prohibited from imposing an additional property tax under RCW 52.16.160?

Yes

No


Woodinville Fire & Rescue is seeking reauthorization of the Benefit Charge. The Benefit Charge accounts for approximately 44 percent of Woodinville Fire & Rescue’s budget. It was first approved by voters for six years in 1989, and subsequently has been renewed by voters at approximately six-year intervals, most recently in 2013. Voter approval is once again required in order to retain this revenue source. Renewal of the Benefit Charge for another six years (2020 through 2025) will allow Woodinville Fire & Rescue to maintain response times and service levels, train personnel and purchase equipment.

The Benefit Charge is based on the occupancy type and square footage of improvements to real property, and reflects the service level (i.e., fire flow of water) needed to control a fire in a particular building.  Each year, the elected Board of Fire Commissioners holds a public meeting to review the Benefit Charge and ensure fiscal responsibility for the coming year.  The law allows for partial exemptions from the charge for senior citizens, buildings with fire sprinkler systems and some agriculture-related improvements.

With the Benefit Charge in effect, state law prohibits the imposition of the $.50 regular property tax for fire protection otherwise allowed by RCW 52.16.160.

Woodinville Fire & Rescue (WF&R) provides a wide range of essential fire and life safety services to the residents and businesses of our community. District firefighters respond to fires, emergency medical incidents, motor vehicle accidents, technical rescues, hazardous materials incidents and other requests for assistance. During the recent snowstorm, our firefighters worked diligently to maintain emergency services and help those in need.

The benefit service charge must be approved by voters every six years and it is once again time to renew our commitment. Currently, the benefit charge provides approximately 44% of the District’s operating revenue. Continuing to support the benefit service charge allows the District to maintain current levels of service including training firefighters, purchasing essential equipment and ensuring a dependable level of fire service so that our community remains safe.

WF&R is Not asking for a tax increase or a new tax. It is asking to continue the funding model that it has been used for almost three decades to ensure that it maintains the ability to quickly and effectively respond to emergency situations to help those in need.

Please join us in voting yes to keeping our community safe and supporting our fire district.

Submitted by: Preeti Shridhar, Carol Fletcher, preetishridhar@gmail.com 

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 52.18.050)

For questions about this measure, contact: Margene Michael, Executive Assistant/Board Secretary, 425-483-2131, mmichael@wf-r.org

15 en-US Production

Contact Elections

Email: elections@kingcounty.gov

Phone: 206-296-VOTE (8683)

TTY: Relay 711

Sign up for email or text notifications

King County Elections building entrance
King County Elections

919 Southwest Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057

Get directions

Languages:
中文 (Chinese)
한국어 (Korean)
Русский (Russian)
Soomaali (Somali)
Español (Spanish)
Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)