Simple Majority (RCW 84.55.050)
PROPOSITION NO. 1
MAINTAINING PROPERTY TAX LEVY RATE
The Board of Fire Commissioners of King County Fire Protection District No. 2 adopted Resolution No. 2007-03 to finance fire protection and emergency medical services. This proposition would allow the District to maintain the tax levy rate within its previously authorized limit of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2008, and would authorize an annual increase of up to 6% (but not to exceed a rate of $1.50) for each of the five succeeding years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. 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 Protection District No. 2, serving the citizens of Burien and Normandy Park, is placing a multi-year lid lift proposition on the August 21st, 2007 ballot. This proposition will authorize the property tax levy rate to remain at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for 2008, coupled with annual increases of up to 6% in each of the five subsequent years. The proposition is presented to allow voters to override 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 voters approved in 2001.
This proposition meets the requirement of Initiative 747, that any revenue increase greater than 1%, over the previous year, be approved by the voters. Recently passed legislation allows junior taxing districts to propose multi-year lid lifts to voters.
Approval of this proposition would allow maintaining the current level of services. Rejection of this proposition would lead to the loss of up to nearly $450,000.00 annually in projected tax revenues, which would necessitate cutbacks in services, possible layoff of personnel, potential elimination of special services such as rescue teams, and similar cutbacks.
Statement For
It is important that we each understand; when we reduce taxes, we are accepting less service. This is a simple question. How comfortable are you with less fire suppression, emergency medical service, and fire prevention programs in our community? For my family and home, I want the best protection that I can get. This is the cheapest insurance you’ll ever buy, and it’s not more money than we have been willing to pay in the past years. Your Fire Department is being tasked with more and more responsibility. Don’t make them try to do it with less funding. Remember, they are your first line of defense in Homeland Security. Voting Yes will keep fire department funding to the level that it has historically been in Burien and Normandy Park. Vote Yes on this proposition and provide the same level of tax funding that is the standard for the fire service in all of the surrounding communities. As a resident of Burien since 1966, I urge you to help your fire department in doing the tough job that they are here for. Vote YES for your own protection.
STATEMENT PREPARED BY: Ron Harmon, Jay Smith, Ted Sitterley
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Statement Against
No Statement Submitted.
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Complete Text of Resolution
RESOLUTION NO. 2007-03
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 2 PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE DISTRICT AT A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD THEREIN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PRIMARY ELECTION ON AUGUST 21st, 2007, A PROPOSITION WHICH WOULD MAINTAIN THE CURRENT FIRE DEPARTMENT LEVY RATE OF $1.50 PER $1,000 OF ASSESSED VALUATION FOR A ONE YEAR PERIOD, AND THEN WOULD ALLOW SPECIFIC INCREASES FOR EACH OF FIVE CONSECUTIVE SUCCESSIVE YEARS, IN PROPERTY TAXES COLLECTED BY THE FIRE DISTRICT APPLICABLE TO ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE DISTRICT, IN EXCESS OF THE LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY CHAPTER 84.55 OF THE REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON.
WHEREAS, in the judgment of the Board of Fire Commissioners (the “Board”) of King County Fire Protection District No. 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 within the limits prescribed by RCW 84.55 as amended, which limits annual property tax increases to 1% over and above the previous year’s tax revenues; and
WHEREAS, RCW 84.55.050 authorizes the 1% limit on annual increases to be exceeded with voter approval, commonly referred to as a “lid lift” election, and
WHEREAS, a 1% limitation would restrict the District from levying up to 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, including cancellation of orders for new apparatus and equipment, layoff of personnel, eliminating special services such as hazardous materials and rescue teams, and similar cutbacks; and
WHEREAS, the electorate should be given the opportunity to decide whether the cutbacks should occur or instead, whether the authorized rate of up to $1.50 per $1,000 should be levied and maintained, waiving the 1% limit of RCW 84.55, commonly referred to as “lifting the lid”.
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. RCW 84.55 places a 1% limitation on the increase of tax revenue collected by the District annually. Such 1% limitation on the increase would cause a loss of revenue to the District of up to $800,000 on an annual basis. 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 RCW 84.55 (commonly referred to as a “lid lift”.)
Section 2. The proposal set forth below, if authorized by the qualified electors of the District, will allow a continued levy rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for a one (1) year period, coupled with specified increases in property taxes collected in each of the five consecutive successive years thereafter. 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 primary election on August 21st, 2007, a proposition to exceed the 1% limitation (and “lift the lid”) of RCW 84.55.010 et seq. and levy the full authorized rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for a one (1) year period, coupled with specified increases in property taxes collected in each of the five consecutive successive years thereafter, subject to statutory and constitutional limits, which are otherwise applicable.
Section 3. The Board hereby requests the Manager of Records and Elections of King County, Washington, as ex officio County Supervisor of Elections, to call and conduct such special election to be held within the District on Tuesday, August 21st, 2007, 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 NO. 2
MAINTAINING PROPERTY TAX LEVY RATE
OF UP TO $1.50 PER $1,000 OF ASSESSED VALUATION
FOR A SIX YEAR PERIOD (2008-2013)
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 No. 2 be authorized to exceed the 1% limitation on annual increases in property tax revenues for a six year period; maintaining the tax levy rate within its previously authorized limit of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2008, and then be allowed an annual increase of up to 6% (but not to exceed a rate of $1.50) on existing properties for years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 as authorized by Resolution No. 2007-03?
(This shall not be construed to authorize an excess levy and shall be subject to otherwise applicable statutory limits, except the 1% limitation required by RCW 84.55.010 et seq.)
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 above shall be construed and interpreted as qualified elector approval of a tax increase in compliance with 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 84 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 No. 2 on May 1, 2007.
KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 2
Chris Elwell, Chairman (signed)
Galen Willis Jr., Commissioner (signed)
Gary Hobbick, Commissioner
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