King County Local Voters Pamphlet

Sept. 16, 2003 Special Elections

FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 10

PROPOSITION NO. 1
AUTHORIZING THE IMPOSITION OF BENEFIT CHARGE

Shall King County Fire Protection District No. 10 be authorized to impose benefit charges each year for six years, not to exceed an amount equal to sixty percent of its operating budget, and be prohibited from imposing an additional property tax under RCW 52.16.160?
APPROVED
REJECTED

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

If approved by the voters, this proposition would authorize King County Fire Protection District No. 10 to impose a benefit charge on personal property and improvements to real property located within the District, which have or will receive benefits provided by the District. The benefit charge would be paid by the owners of such properties.
The District Board of Commissioners has determined that a benefit charge, in conjunction with a lower level of property taxes, provides the most stable, reliable and cost effective method for financing the operations of the District and maintaining a satisfactory level of services.

The benefit charge would be established by November 30 of the year immediately preceding the year in which the benefit charges would be collected. Prior to establishing the benefit charges, the District Board of Commissioners would hold a public hearing. The aggregate amount of the benefit charges would not be more than 60% of the District's operating budget for the year in which the benefit charges would be collected.

After establishing the benefit charges, the District would notify the property owners of the amount of the benefit charges. The property owners would have an opportunity to request a special review board to reduce the amount of the benefit charge, and the review board would have the authority to impose a benefit charge that, in the opinion of the review board, is true, fair and just.

STATEMENT FOR

We need stable funding for our emergency service. Your YES vote will enable our local fire department to continue to deliver the top quality services they provide now.
CHANGING WORLD-In this time of extreme challenges to our community's emergency services, stable funding sources are essential. The Fire Benefit Charge will provide the needed stability.

CONTAINING COSTS-The current system of levying the maximum allowable rate as a junior taxing district makes the Fire Department funding low on the pecking order and at the mercy of local hospital, library, and road projects. The Fire Benefit Charge is voter approved every six years and spreads the cost of emergency services fairly. It replaces the current property tax only system and lowers the existing tax. It dedicates funding solely for Fire services based on need. The recent study of the funding and services provided by Eastside Fire and Rescue by the Nesbitt Group pointed out that the citizens of Fire District 10 and the other partners are receiving twenty million dollars service for a fifteen million dollar price.

LOCAL MONEY, LOCAL CONTROL-The money collected here for Fire services will stay here and be spent for Fire Services. The Fire Benefit Charge provides stability of funding, the ability to plan for future emergency services, and fairness in the collection and distribution of funds for our local fire department.

VOTE YES FOR THE FIRE BENEFIT SERVICE CHARGE
STATEMENT PREPARED BY: Jeff Griffin, Marlene Ciraulo, James Norris

STATEMENT AGAINST

No Statement Submitted.

COMPLETE TEXT OF THE PROPOSITION

KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 10
ISSAQUAH, WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION 03-01

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 10 DECLARING THE INTENT TO ESTABLISH A BENEFIT CHARGE; CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING; AND FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION WITHIN THE DISTRICT OF A PROPOSITION AUTHORIZING THE IMPOSITION OF A BENEFIT CHARGE ON PERSONAL PROPERTY AND IMPROVEMENTS TO REAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE DISTRICT FOR UP TO SIX YEARS.

WHEREAS, the District is authorized by Chapter 52.18 RCW to establish, impose and collect a benefit charge on assessed personal property and improvements to real property located within the District; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners has determined that the benefit charge, established in conjunction with a lower level of taxes provides the most stable, reliable and cost effective method for financing the operations of the District needed to maintain a satisfactory level of District services; and

WHEREAS, it is reasonable and necessary that the District impose a benefit charge for the support of its legally authorized activities which will maintain or improve the services provided by the District;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of King County Fire Protection District No. 10 as follows:

1. Benefit Charge. It is the declared intent of the District to fix and impose a benefit charge on personal property and improvements to real property located within the fire protection district, which have or will receive benefits provided by the fire protection district, to be paid by owners of such properties.

2. Amount. The benefit charge proposed to be collected in 2004 is a total amount of $2,326,754, which constitutes 34% of the 2004 Operating Budget. The benefit charge will be set in each preceding calendar year at the conclusion of a public hearing, pursuant to RCW 52.18.060 (2), to be held prior to the year of imposition. In no event shall the service charge be more than 60% of the operations budget for the year in which the benefit charge is to be collected.

3. Effective Date. The proposed benefit charge would be imposed on the affected property beginning January 1, 2004, if approved by the voters.

4. Notice of Service Charge. Property owners will be notified in writing the amount of the benefit charge to be imposed each year on each property prior to establishment of a Benefit Charge Review Board pursuant to RCW 52.18.070.

5. Contract for Administration. The Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the District and the Board Secretary of the District are authorized and directed to negotiate a contract with the treasurer of King County to provide for the collection of the benefit charge. The contract shall establish the fee to be paid by the District to reimburse the County for expenses incurred by the County Assessor and County Treasurer for the collection of the benefit charge, pursuant to RCW 52.18.040.

RESOLUTION: INTENT TO IMPOSE BENEFIT CHARGE

6. Public Hearing. Pursuant to the provisions of RCW 52.18.060 (1), the Secretary of the District is authorized and directed to schedule a public hearing before the Board of Commissioners to be held to consider the proposal to impose benefit charges for the support of the legally authorized activities of the District to maintain or improve the services afforded in the District. The Secretary shall cause public notice of the hearing to be published in a legal newspaper circulated within the District no less than 14 days prior to the date of the hearing. The secretary shall also post a public notice of the hearing at all fire stations within the District.

7. Election. Pursuant to the provisions of RCW 52.18.050 (1), there shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the district for their approval or rejection, at a special election on September 16, 2003, the question of whether or not such benefit charge for fire protection purposes shall be authorized. The Secretary of the District is authorized and directed to request the Superintendent, King County Election Section, 553 King County Administration Building, 500 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, to call said special election, the ballot title for which is;

PROPOSITION: AUTHORIZING THE IMPOSITION OF BENEFIT CHARGE

"Shall King County Fire Protection District No. 10 be authorized to impose benefit charges each year for six years, not to exceed an amount equal to sixty percent of its operating budget, and be prohibited from imposing an additional property tax under RCW 52.16.160?
YES NO"
? ?

ADOPTED by the Board of Commissioners of King County Fire Protection District No. 10, Washington, in open public meeting on the 17th day of June, 2003.

Signed by Commissioners

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