Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety is asking voters to change the way tax dollars are collected for emergency services by approving a fire benefit charge. Quality emergency services are important to public safety, strong home values and thriving communities. Just as important is a sustainable and predictable method of financing those services. We believe this proposal is worth approving on the August primary election ballot.
During the last recession, property values fell drastically in our area and so did the amount of revenue our fire department received to provide service. Our community approved a temporary excess levy (which expires at the end of the year) to make up the shortfall, but not before the fire department had to make cuts to service and issue layoff notices to personnel.
This is no way to have to run an emergency services program when life safety is at stake. However, it is what the fire department must do since, under the current system, almost all revenue for emergency services is connected to property values.
Since the recession, Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety has looked at three ways to sustainably fund emergency services.
1. It considered running multiple excess levies, but that’s unpredictable as well as expensive to be on the ballot every few years.
2. It also considered merging with a larger, neighboring fire department, but it was unclear how or if that would affect service levels and what it would cost taxpayers.
3. The last option was to ask voters to consider stabilizing a portion of the cost to provide emergency services with a fire benefit charge.
With a benefit charge, the fire levy is reduced from $1.50 to $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That revenue reduction is replaced with a charge based on the size and use of a structure. Smaller buildings (like single family homes) are charged less than larger ones because it costs less to defend them in a fire.
A majority of funding for emergency services will still come from the fire levy which is based on the value of your property. However, a benefit charge stabilizes a portion of revenue the fire department receives because the size of a structure is constant as opposed to the value of a property which fluctuates. These changes in the funding formula result in a much more equitable allocation of the cost of service in relation to the risk created by the properties served.
Voters in 11 other local communities in our area have approved a benefit charge because they feel it is a stable and fair way to charge for emergency services. The benefit charge is voter-approved and adjusted annually in a public hearing to meet the demand for service. This helps even out the funding peaks and valleys that we currently experience.
Emergency services require a stable funding source and careful planning to meet the growing demand in our community. A Citizen Advisory Group, administration, the Board of Fire Commissioners, and emergency personnel have researched the options to stabilize funding and have been transparent in this process. Please join us in voting Yes on Proposition 1 in August.
Sue VanRuff is the former CEO of the Maple Valley-Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce, and a community member and volunteer since 1975.
Jim Flynn is a life-long Maple Valley resident, former deputy mayor of the city of Maple Valley, past president of the Maple Valley-Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce and local business owner.
Gary Habenicht is a life-time resident of unincorporated King County in service to the greater community.
