King County Local Voters Pamphlet

Nov. 4, 2003 Special Elections

FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 2
BALLOT TITLE
PROPOSITION NO. 1
AUTHORIZING INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES OVER 1% LIMITATION

The Board of Commissioners of King County Fire Protection District No. 2 adopted
Resolution No.06-2003 proposing to levy a regular property tax of One Dollar and 50/100 ($1.50) per One Thousand Dollars ($1000.00) of assessed value upon all the taxable property within the District in 2003 for collection in 2004. This shall not be construed to authorize an excess levy and shall be subject to otherwise applicable statutory dollar rate limitations. Should this proposition be:

APPROVED
REJECTED

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

King County Fire District #2, a junior taxing district located in King County, is placing a lid lift proposition on the November 4th, 2003 ballot. This proposition will authorize the property tax levy rate to increase to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.The proposition is presented to provide voters the opportunity to exceed the limitation imposed by Initiative 747, which would otherwise limit total property tax revenue to 101% of the previous year’s revenue, regardless of the authorized dollar rate limitation of $1.50, which has been in effect since 2001.

This proposition meets the requirement of Initiative 747, which was enacted by the voters of the State of Washington in November of 2001, mandating that any increase in revenue of more than 1%, over the previous year, be approved by the voters. Approval of this proposition would allow the maintaining of the current level of services. Rejection of this proposition would lead to the loss of approximately $250,000 in projected tax revenue, which would necessitate cutbacks in services, including cancellation of future emergency equipment purchases, possible layoff of personnel, potential elimination of special services such as rescue teams, and similar cutbacks.

COMPLETE TEXT OF THE PROPOSITION

KING COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT #2 KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON RESOLUTION NO. 06-2003

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT #2 PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE DISTRICT AT A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD THEREIN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GENERAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 4, 2003, A PROPOSITION WHICH WOULD AUTHORIZE AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUES IN EXCESS OF THE LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY CHAPTER 84.55 OF THE REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON, BUT MAINTAIN THE LEVY RATE OF $1.50 PER $1,000 OF ASSESSED VALUATION LIMIT PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED FOR THE TAXING DISTRICT, APPLICABLE TO ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE DISTRICT.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT #2, KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON, AS FOLLOWS:

WHEREAS, in the judgment of the Board of Fire Commissioners (the “Board”) of King County Fire Protection District #2 (the “District”), it is essential for the protection of the public health, safety, life, and property of the citizens and residents of the District that minimum service levels of fire and emergency medical services be maintained; and WHEREAS, a regular property tax rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, applicable to all taxable property located in the district, has been previously authorized and may be lawfully levied, except Initiative 747 (RCW 84.55.010, as amended) limits annual property tax increases to 1% over and above the previous year’s tax revenues; and WHEREAS, Initiative 747 authorizes the 1% limit on annual increases to be exceeded with voter approval; and WHEREAS, a 1% limitation would restrict the District from levying its full authorized levy rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, necessitating a cutback in the level of services in the District, which may include cancellation of training, layoff of personnel, eliminating special services such as fire prevention, reduction of the number of in service units; and WHEREAS, the electorate should be given the opportunity to decide whether the cutbacks should occur or instead, whether the full authorized rate of $1.50 per $1,000 should be levied, waiving the 1% limit of the initiative. NOW THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, FOUND, DETERMINED AND ORDERED, AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. A regular property tax rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, applicable to all taxable property located in the district, has been previously duly authorized, and is necessary and appropriate to levy, notwithstanding the 1% annual increase limitation of RCW 84.55.010 et seq., as amended by Initiative 747. Such 1% limit would cause a loss of revenue to the District and impact the ability to provide adequate service to the community. Such a loss would necessitate cutbacks in services as enumerated in the fourth recital above. This resolution and the resultant election would give the voters the opportunity to choose to continue service pursuant to the previously authorized levy rate adopted pursuant to RCW 52.16.160 (the “third fifty cents”), waiving the 1% limit of the initiative.

Section 2. The proposal set forth below, if authorized by the qualified electors of the District, will allow a levy rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. There shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the District, for their ratification or rejection, at a special election held in conjunction with the general election on November 4, 2003, a proposition to exceed the 1% limitation of RCW 84.55.010 et seq. and levy the full authorized rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, subject to statutory and constitutional limits, which are otherwise applicable.

Section 3. The Board hereby declares that an emergency exists and hereby requests the Manager of Records and Elections of King County, Washington, as ex officio County Supervisor of Elections, to find the existence of such emergency, to deem the same to exist, to call and conduct such special election to be held within the District on Tuesday, November 4, 2003, and to submit to the qualified electors of the District the proposition in substantially the following form:

PROPOSITION NO. 1 KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT #2 AUTHORIZING INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES OVER 1% LIMITATION

To ensure the continued delivery of fire protection and emergency medical services for the citizens and residents of the District, shall King County Fire Protection District #2 be authorized to exceed the 1% limitation on annual increases in property tax revenues, and allowed to levy taxes within its previously authorized limit of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value, as authorized by Resolution No. 06-2003. (This shall not be construed to authorize an excess levy and shall be subject to otherwise applicable statutory limits, except Initiative 747, as it was approved and became effective according to law.)

INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS:

To vote IN FAVOR OF the foregoing proposition, mark a cross (X) in the “Levy, Yes” square.

To vote AGAINST the foregoing proposition, mark a cross (X) in the “Levy, No” square.

LEVY, YES [ ]

LEVY, NO [ ]

Section 4. The locations of the polling places, if any, shall be as specified by the Manager of Records and Elections of King County, Washington, as ex officio County Supervisor of Elections for the District.

Section 5. A notice of special election shall be published at least once, which publication shall take place not more than ten (10) days nor less than three (3) days prior to the date of said election. Said publication shall be in a newspaper of general circulation within the District.

Section 6. Approval of the proposition described in Section 3 shall be construed and interpreted as qualified elector approval of a tax increase in compliance with Initiative 747 and RCW 84.55 as amended.

Section 7. The Secretary to the Board is hereby directed to deliver a certified copy of this resolution to the Manager of Records and Elections of King County, Washington, as ex officio County Supervisor of Elections for the District, at least 45 days before the date for the special election.

Section 8. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption. ADOPTED AND APPROVED by the Board of Fire Commissioners of King County Fire Protection District #2 on July 15, 2003. Signed by: Alex Sasonoff, Max Roushman, Darold Doell

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