Vashon Island Fire and Rescue (“District”), serving the citizens of Vashon and Maury Islands, is placing a multi-year lid lift proposition on the August 1, 2023 Primary ballot. The district responded to the community’s requests for emergency medical care, fire suppression, rescue, and other emergencies, 1,629 times in 2022. This is a 9% increase in calls for service since 2017. However, while firefighters are responding to more calls, the $1.50 regular levy rate previously approved by voters is projected to fall to $1.24 in 2024 due to statutory limitations.
This lid-lift proposition is presented to allow voters to override the 1% growth limitation imposed by Initiative 747. If the lid lift does not pass, the total property tax revenue of the District would be limited to 101% of the Authority’s previous year’s revenue, even though District voters approved the $1.50 per $1,000 limit in 2017.
If this proposition passes, a taxpayer with the average home value of $600,000 would anticipate an increased tax of $18.60 per month.
If approved, this measure authorizes District to restore the levy rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value as approved by voters. This would allow the levy dollar amount to increase by up to 6% in the succeeding five years, but the rate cannot exceed $1.50 even if properties increase in value. The dollar amount of the levy in 2029 would be used to calculate future levy increase limits.
