King County Local Voters Pamphlet

Nov. 4, 2003 Special Elections

FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 43
PROPOSITION NO. 2
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
BONDS - $8,000,000

The Board of Fire Commissioners of Fire Protection District No. 43, King County (Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety), adopted Resolution No. R-03-01 concerning a proposition to finance and refinance facilities and equipment. This proposition would authorize the District to acquire firefighting, emer-gency, communications, medical and safety equipment, apparatus including fire engines and other vehicles, improve and equip fire stations, and carry out other capital purposes, issue no more than $8,000,000 of general obligation bonds maturing within 20 years, and levy annual excess property taxes to pay and retire such bonds, all as provided in Resolution No. R-03-01. Should this proposition be:
APPROVED
REJECTED

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The proposition would authorize $8 million in new debt through the sale of general obligation bonds, and an excess levy to pay and redeem the bonds. Proceeds would purchase a list of capital improvements developed by the district staff, and approved by the Board of Fire Commissioners in open public meetings. The project list, and the bond redemption schedule, is available at the Headquarters Fire Station in Maple Valley.

The capital projects are necessary because of the aging of major equipment, changes in firefighter safety standards, and our need to keep pace with our growing community. The need for these projects is well established, and a justification is included in the project list. The question many people raise when money proposals are submitted is “Can we afford this?”

The District’s current property tax rate for bond debt services is .14/$1000. If approved, the proposed bond issue would increase that by .10/$1000 to .24/$1000 in 2004. The Board of Fire Commissioners has set a maximum levy rate of .25/$1000 for the life of these bonds. The cost of the bonds for property valued at $200,000 is just $48/year.

What will that buy? The projects list is more detailed, but generally it includes all the projected capital apparatus, equipment and facilities needs of the district for the next 8 - 10 years. Because we are planning that far into the future, we expect to sell the bonds in three issuances, one in late 2003, and two others approximately three years apart.

COMPLETE TEXT OF THE PROPOSITION

FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 43
(MAPLE VALLEY FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY)
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON

RESOLUTION NO. R-03-02

A RESOLUTION of the Board of Fire Commissioners of Fire Protection District No. 43 (Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety), King County, Washington, providing for the submission to the voters of the District at a special election to be held therein on November 4, 2003, in conjunction with the State General Election to be held on the same date, of a proposition authorizing the restoration of the regular property tax levy of the District to $1.50 per $1000, to be made in 2003 for collection in 2004, on all of the taxable property within the District (such assessed value representing 100% of true and fair value unless specifically provided otherwise by law); subject to otherwise applicable statutory limitations, all as more particularly set forth herein.

WHEREAS, the Board of Fire Commissioners (the “Board”) of Fire Protection District No. 43 (Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety), King County, Washington (the “District”) has determined that the money which will be available for the Expense Fund for the calendar year 2004 will be insufficient to permit the District to meet the expenses of operation, services and maintenance essential and necessary for the protection of the public health, life and property of its residents during such calendar year, and that it is necessary that the regular property tax levy of the district be restored to $1.50 per $1000, such levy to be made in 2003 for collection in 2004, on all of the taxable property within the District (such assessed value representing 100% of true and fair value unless specifically provided otherwise by law), for the Expense Fund of the District to provide funds required to meet those expenses; and
WHEREAS, the Constitution and the laws of the State of Washington provide that the question of whether or not such taxes may be levied must be submitted to the qualified electors of the District for their ratification or rejection; and
WHEREAS, the conditions and situations hereinbefore set forth create an emergency which requires the holding of a special election in the District; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 43 (MAPLE VALLEY FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY), KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON, as follows:

Section 1. It is found and declared that an emergency exists requiring the calling of a special election and the Manager of the Records and Elections Division of King County, Washington, as ex officio Supervisor of Elections, is requested to find and declare the existence of an emergency. The Manager of the Records and Elections Division of King County further is requested to call and conduct a special election in the District, in the manner provided by law, to be held therein on November 4, 2003, in conjunction with the State General Election to be held on the same date, for the purpose of submitting to the voters of the District, for their approval or rejection, a proposition of whether or not the regular property tax levy of the District shall be restored to $1.50 per $1000; such levy to be made in 2003 for collection in 2004, on all of the taxable property within the District (such assessed value representing 100% of true and fair value unless specifically provided otherwise by law); and thereafter to be subject to otherwise applicable statutory limitations. Nothing in this resolution shall restrict the District from increasing its regular property tax from year to year or from submitting future propositions to its voters regarding increases in property taxes.

Section 2. Pursuant to RCW 29.79.055, as amended, the King County Prosecuting Attorney is requested to prepare the concise description of the aforesaid proposition for the ballot title in substantially the following form:

PROPOSITION
FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 43
(MAPLE VALLEY FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY)
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON

RESTORATION OF REGULAR PROPERTY TAX LEVY
The Board of Fire Commissioners of Fire Protection District No. 43 (Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety), King County, Washington, adopted Resolution No. R-03-02 concerning restoring the regular property tax levy to $1.50 per $1,000. This proposition would authorize the District to restore its regular property tax levy for 2004, subject to otherwise applicable statutory limitations. Should this proposition be: approved?
APPROVED
REJECTED

Section 3. The Secretary of the District is directed (a) to certify to the Manager of the Records and Elections Division of King County a copy of this Resolution No. R-03-02 showing its adoption by the Board at least 45 days prior to the date of such special election; and (b) to perform such other duties as are necessary or required by law to the end that the question of whether or not such regular tax levy shall be made as herein provided for shall be submitted to the voters of the District at the aforesaid election.

Section 4. For purposes of receiving notice of the exact language of the ballot title required by RCW 29.27.0665, the Board of Fire Commissioners hereby designates the Secretary of the District as the individual to whom the Director of Records and Elections of King County, Washington, shall provide such notice.

ADOPTED by the Board of Fire Commissioners of Fire Protection District No. 43 (Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety), King County, Washington, at a regular open public meeting thereof, this 3rd day of July, 2003, the following Commissioners being present and voting in favor of the resolution.

FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 43
(MAPLE VALLEY FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY)
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Signed by:

Fred W. Maxwell, Chairman and Commissioner
Mark D. Fern, Commissioner
Jeff P.J. Granlund, Commissioner

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