Northshore Fire special election April 23

Voters in Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and the rest of the Northshore Fire District (King County Fire Protection District 16) have their ballots for the April 23 special election.

The only item on the ballot is a six-year continuation of a benefit charge.

Voters Guide

King County Fire Protection District No. 16

Ballot Title

Proposition No. 1

Benefit Charge Continuation

Shall King County Fire Protection District No. 16 be authorized to continue voter-authorized benefit charges each year for six 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 __

The complete text of this measure is available at the Elections Office or online.

Explanatory statement

The Northshore Fire Department (King County Fire Protection District 16) is responsible for providing fire protection and emergency medical services in your community. For the last twenty-four years the Fire Department has funded these services primarily through a combination of property taxes and voter approved benefit charges.

Benefit charges are based on risk factors and the cost of providing fire protection services, unlike property taxes that relate to the value of property. Under state law, voters must approve the use of benefit charges every 6 years and the Elected Board of Commissioners is required to hold a public hearing each year to review and establish the amount of the benefit charge. Once established the aggregate amount of the charge is pro-rated to individual properties based on risk factors and collected by the county assessor, together with real estate taxes. The amount of any benefit charge imposed on any given property cannot exceed the measurable benefits of the services afforded to the property by the Fire Department and are subject to appeal.

Under state law, fire districts which collect benefit charges authorized under Chapter 52.18 RCW have reduced taxing authority. Benefit charges can constitute no more than 60 percent of a district’s annual operating budget and the maximum property tax rate is reduced from $1.50 to $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

If approved, Proposition 1 would continue the current funding method of providing emergency medical and fire protection services for 6 more years.

For additional questions regarding this measure contact:

Jim Torpin - Fire Chief, 425-354-1776

Statement in favor

Citizens of the Northshore Fire District have wholeheartedly supported the work of our fire department, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians. We have one of the finest departments in the Northwest. Its professional team of well-trained staff has proven itself repeatedly in the performance of its duties. For over two decades our citizens have voted to fund a benefit charge to support the department’s operating budget.

The combined assessment from property tax and the benefit charge for fire protection would continue to average approximately $1.50 per thousand. This is not a new tax, but it must be approved by voters every six years, and it is time to renew that commitment once again. By supporting this renewal, the taxation level for the fire district remains constant and provides a vital and reliable source of revenue for planning, equipment maintenance and replacement, and property protection. This is a crucial investment in our community, one which we will be glad we made in case our own family needs emergency assistance, or we face a natural disaster or public safety crisis. Join us in continuing the commitment to maintaining our excellent fire department.

Please vote to approve this measure.

Statement submitted by: Marella Alejandrino, Kent Sturgis, and Jack Rogers • 206-367-7153

Statement in opposition

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.

See previous article on obtaining and submitting ballots.