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Ballot measures

November 7, 2023 General and Special Election

King County Fire Protection District No. 27

Proposition No. 1
Property Tax Levy for Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services

The Board of King County Fire Protection District No. 27 adopted Resolution No. 2023-2 concerning a proposition to maintain and adequately fund District operations.

This proposition would authorize the District to establish its 2023 property tax levy at $1.50 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation with annual adjustments for the five succeeding years based on the greater of three percent or the annual CPI-U for Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue as reported in June each year subject to statutory limits. The maximum allowable levy in the final year shall serve as the base for subsequent levy limitations.

Should this proposition be:

Approved

Rejected


King County Fire Protection District No. 27 provides emergency fire protection, rescue and emergency medical services to its community.

 

The maximum regular levy rate for Washington fire districts is $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.  Due to the statutory 1% limitation on property tax increases, the Fire District’s current levy rate includes a regular property tax levy of approximately $.78 per thousand of assessed valuation and a maintenance and operations excess levy of approximately $.31. 

 

If approved by the voters, this proposition will authorize the District to establish its regular property tax levy rate at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2023 for collection in 2024. The proposition will also allow the District to keep pace with inflation by establishing an annual growth factor based on the greater of 3% or the annual consumer price index identified in the Board’s Resolution. At the end of the six-year period, absent further voter approval, the District tax levy rate will be subject to statutory limitations.

 

If this proposition is approved by the voters, the Board will not levy the final year of the approximately $.31 per thousand of assessed valuation maintenance and operations levy.

 

The Board of Commissioners has determined that the tax levy and the revenue it will produce is necessary to maintain the current level of services, fire fighter staffing, equipment and facilities and to purchase updated apparatus to continue to improve services for the protection of life and property in the growing District and to enhance public safety.

Our Fire Department has consistently demonstrated responsible management of the resources we have entrusted to them.  Our Fire Department currently funds daily operations and most capital replacement needs through a combined levy that pays for staffing, repairing and replacing equipment. In 2022 our department responded to 1,009 calls of which 700 were emergency medical calls. Our staffing needs and labor cost have increased, the number of emergency responses, and the cost of goods, services, and equipment continue to rise.

 

Our Fire Departments last regular levy lid request was in 2004, this levy has eroded down to $0.776 per $1,000/AV., an additional $0.313 per $1,000/AV is collected from a Maintenance and Operations levy which would not be collected in 2024, reducing the net increase of tax revenue.

 

This multiple year levy request would increase the combined levy rate from $1.09/$1,000 AV to $1.50/$1,000 AV in 2024, and would then include an inflationary factor of the greater of 3% or the increase of our local CPI index in each of the subsequent five years.  This levy request will cost the average taxpayer approximately $16.26 per month.  More information www.king27fire.com

 

Please join us as we support Our Fire Department with a Yes vote!

 

Submitted by: Chris Connor, Kevin Hauglie, kj7ww@hotmail.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 84.55.050)

For questions about this measure, contact: Brian Culp, Fire Chief, (425) 222-5841, bculp@king27fire.com

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