Shoreline Fire Prop 1: Voters' pamphlet material

The Fire Benefit Charge, Prop. 1, is one of two Shoreline Fire Department measures on the Aug. 4 ballot.

   

Here is voters' pamphlet material on Prop. 1, which requires a 60% Yes vote to pass.

BALLOT TITLE:

Shall Shoreline Fire Department be authorized to impose 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?

Shall this measure be approved? Yes . No

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Shoreline Fire Department provides emergency medical, and fire protection service to approximately 13.5 square miles of service area in King County.

A benefit charge is not a property tax. The benefit charge is a user fee designed to allocate the cost of the services provided by the District in reasonable proportion to the measurable benefit a property receives. The benefit charge will be based on a formula that takes into consideration levels of service, fire flows, the square footage of structures and the type of structures.

The District Board of Commissioners has determined that a benefit charge, provides the fairest, most stable, reliable and cost effective method for financing the operations of the District and maintaining a satisfactory level of services.

The proposition requests voters to authorize the benefit charge to be collected for six years from 2016 through 2021. If approved by the voters, the benefit charge will be established by November 30th of each year for collection the following year, Prior to establishing the benefit charge each year, the District Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing and each year property owners will have the right to appeal the amount of the benefit charge.

For questions about this measure, contact Matt Cowan, Fire Chief, 206-533-6510.

Statement For

King County and the City of Shoreline have one of the best fire and emergency medical systems in the nation. Your odds of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest in Shoreline are literally the highest in the world, 65%. Our fire department has also been rated as a level 3, which is very good. This high level of service is because our voters have consistently provided the SFD with the funding necessary to protect our citizens and our property. A Fire Benefit Charge (FBC) is more appropriate and the best way to provide funding for the future.

A FBC is a more equitable, and dependable method of funding. It is based on the inherent risk of a building, it’s size and use. The FBC system is flexible and allows homeowners an opportunity to provide input to our elected Fire Commissioners every year. For more detailed information visit the SFD website.

Many of the best fire departments in the region are successfully using the FBC system: Northshore, Woodinville, Kent, North Highline, and Issaquah. Many others are moving in that direction. As a Citizen I urge you to continue your support of the SFD and vote yes.

Submitted by Allen Alston and Brett Defenbaugh, 

Statement Against

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.

Download the full text of the resolution here