The Municipal League of King County announced its support for the Kent Regional Fire Authority Proposition No. 1 on the April 27 special election ballot. A full summary of our report is available online at www.munileague.org.
Citizens depend upon reliable and sustainable emergency response systems. Fiscal challenges facing Kent, Covington and Fire District 37 have already resulted in staff reductions and increased response times for emergency services. The League supports the use of the proposed fire benefit charge in combination with the property tax because the blended revenue stream is fair and balances general purpose taxes with a user fee charged to facilities based on risk and need. The League also supports the consolidation of previously separate service districts into a new regional authority—this is consistent with the increasing urbanization of King County and the need for new governance models to address the many annexations and incorporations that have taken place.
Proposition No. 1 would effectively merge the Kent Fire Department and Fire District 37 into a Regional Fire Authority (RFA). The RFA would be funded by a six-year Fire Benefit Charge (FBC) that may not exceed 60 percent of the operating budget and a property tax that may not exceed $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed value. The FBC is based on a calculation of the cost of providing fire protection to a specific building. Factors such as the building’s use, size and risk are all considered in the FBC formula. The property tax assessment would replace the existing $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value and would reduce the City of Kent’s property tax capacity by the tax rate collected by the RFA.
A six-member board of commissioners would govern the RFA with three members elected from the City of Kent and three from Fire District 37. The city of Covington would receive direct representation from the elected commissioners of Fire District 37, and an at-large non-voting member of the Covington City Council. There would also be an appointed citizen’s advisory board.
The measure requires a 60 percent super-majority approval.
Ballot recommendations are determined by groups of citizen volunteers who study the issue and hear from parties on all sides. The recommendations are then reviewed and approved by the Municipal League Board of Trustees, whose focus is on promoting effective government.
The Municipal League of King County is a nonpartisan volunteer organization that has worked to ensure government that is open, effective and accountable since 1910. The Municipal League is dedicated to improving the caliber of public officials and the quality of public decisions. For more information contact the Municipal League at (206) 622-8333 or visit their Web site at http://www.munileague.org/.
2010 Board of Trustees
Kathy Elias, co-chair, prospect delta
Gabe Meyer, co-chair
Laraine Volkman, secretary
Mike Repass, treasurer
Alex Bolton
Deryl Brown-Archie, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
Steve DiJulio,
Joel Emans, UW law student
Mary Gates, Federal Way symphony
Andrew Greene, Perkins Coie
Ryan Harkins, Microsoft
Judy Jenkins, Philanthropy Planning Services
John Jenson, Jensen Roofing
Chris Johnson, Office of the Attorney General
Lauren Kuester, communications committee chair, GGLO
Cynara Lilly, events committee chair
Vanessa Lund, Cocker Fennessy
Matthew Stubbs, CEC chair, Seattle City Light
Nick Verwolf, Davis Wright Tremaine
Adam Walters, Stoel Rives
Rodney Wendt, operations committee chair
Nick Williamson, UW law student
Greg Wong, K&L Gates
