April 28th Special Election Ballot on King County Emergency Radio Network
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Ballots are now in hand for the April 28 special election. There is only one issue on the ballot: whether to approve a property tax levy to replace the King County emergency public safety radio network.
The campaign is co-chaired by King County Sheriff John Urquhart and new Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole.
Proposition 1 would allow King County to update what they consider a "dangerously outdated emergency communications system essential for effective police, fire, Medic One, and other emergency first responders."
The current emergency radio network was constructed in 1992, has gaps in coverage in populated areas, and was designed to serve a much smaller area.
Public safety officials say that the outdated system puts the public and first responders at risk.
The proposed ordinance would allow King County to levy an additional $.07 per $1,000 of assessed home value. If approved, it will cost the average homeowner in King County just over $2 per month to fund this network - "a nominal fee for the added safety and security it will provide to all King County residents" say supporters.
“Our communities are safer when our emergency personnel have reliable tools,” said Campaign Co-chair Kathleen O’Toole. “The emergency radio network is used daily. It is a critical tool that is used by Fire, Police, Medic One, and EMS to do their jobs on every call, every day. It is essential that we support Prop. 1.”
The King County Council passed Ordinance 17993 on March 2nd, 2015 putting Prop. 1 and the essential emergency radio network improvements on the April 28th Special Election ballot. More information here.
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1 comments:
I'm all in support of public safety, but am wondering why it needs to be funded this way.
I just read the "statement against" the proposition in the voter's guide: http://your.kingcounty.gov/elections2/contests/measureinfo.aspx?cid=53361&eid=1264 . It was submitted by two commissioners of the South King Fire & Rescue District, so, presumably, they know what they are talking about. They question the "levy lid lift" funding and claim it can be detrimental to the operation of their fire district, however I do not fully understand the details of their argument.
Can anyone point me to any other articles, for or against, which better explain the implications of the "levy lid lift" funding in prop. 1?
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