King County Local Voters Pamphlet

Nov. 2, 2004 General and Special Elections

King and Kittitas County Fire Protection District No. 51 - Proposition No. 1

AUTHORIZING PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

The Board of Commissioners of King and Kittitas County Fire Protection District No. 51 adopted a proposition concerning the authorization of a tax levy for fire district purposes. This proposition would authorize the District to levy a regular property tax levy for collection in 2005 in an amount not to exceed the rate of one dollar and zero cents ($1.00) per one thousand dollars ($1,000) of assessed value upon all taxable property within the district, all as more particularly described in King and Kittitas County Fire Protection District No. 51 Resolution No. 2004-25. Should this proposition be approved?

TAX LEVY - Yes
TAX LEVY - No

Explanatory Statement

Snoqualmie Pass Fire & Rescue, a junior taxing district located in King and Kittitas County, is placing a levy lid-lift on the November 2nd 2004 ballot. This proposition will authorize the property tax levy rate for properties within the fire district to be restored to the lawful maximum rate of $1.00 / $1,000 of assessed value (AV). The Board of Commissioners will determine the actual levy rate. The levy rate of approximately $0.97 was last assessed in 2000 prior to Initiative 747. The rate in 2004 is $.8493. The proposition will authorize the levy rate to be restored to the statutory maximum for a volunteer fire department. This assessment will be made in 2004 and collected in 2005. Thereafter, the statutory limits on property tax increases will be restored. This is a reauthorization of the district's lawful funding level.

This proposition meets the requirements of Initiative 747, which was enacted by the voters of the State of Washington in November of 2001, mandating that any increase in revenue of more than 1%, over the previous year, be approved by the voters.

Approval of this proposition would allow the maintenance of the current level of services. Rejection of this proposition would lead to financial shortfalls and require serious cutbacks in current operations and administration of district services.

Statement for

Help Snoqualmie Pass Fire & Rescue (SPFR) RESTORE the levy rate to $1.00 per $1,000 assessed valuation. Following passage of Initiative 747, which limits increases in property tax revenues to 1.0% per year unless voter approved, revenues have not kept pace with the cost of operations. In 2000, prior to I-747, the levy rate was 97.2 cents. The rate has since dropped to 84.9 cents, yet operational costs continue to grow.

Passage of this measure is essential for maintaining current service levels, including fire protection and emergency medical services. SPFR has experienced dramatic increases in call volumes, 241% during the past eight years, and has worked to improve its efficiency with available funding. SPFR has also received federal grants to purchase new equipment, including a fire engine, to be used for the benefit of the entire community.

Public safety impacts everyone. This fire department is your first line of defense during emergencies. I-747 will continue to limit operating revenues. Government funding, which often requires matching funds, is not always available. Voting "approved" will ensure that SPFR is able to provide the best service possible. Passing this measure would cost an additional $30 per year (based on a $200,000 home).

Statement against

DO YOU SPEND MORE THAN YOU MAKE? If you do, how long before you're bankrupt? Fire chief and commissioners have consistently mismanaged your tax dollars. NOW THEY EXPECT YOU TO BAIL THEM OUT!

QUESTIONABLE EXPENSES! Wages are excessive compared to comparable volunteer fire districts. Projected payroll of $56,020.00 is 45.5% of tax revenue. SPFD responds to ski area accidents when DOCTORS are on duty. SPFD responds to accidents into King County Rescue Jurisdiction. Out of district calls on I-90 add to expense and overuse of volunteers. Routine payments and reimbursements were made with inadequate documentation or no receipts. Payments were made to commissioners and employees not authorized by their contracts.

CONSISTENT LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO TAXPAYERS! No Line Item Budget. SPFD HAS NO IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT TO SPEND! THEY REFUSE TO WORK FOR THE SAME PAY AS OTHER VOLUNTEER FIRE DISTRICTS. No regular testing for drug or alcohol abuse.

TAX BASE INCREASING RADICALLY Property owners are already getting hit with a 15-25% assessment increase in 2005.

WE CURRENTLY PROVIDE SERVICES TO MILLIONS OF TOURISTS, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE MILLIONS OF TAXPAYERS! WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO SUPPORT SERVICES TO THEM WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT!

VOTE NO!

Rebuttal of statement against

Legally SPFR can't spend more than received! SPFR has line item budgets through 2005 and provided them to "opposition." Payments/ reimbursements are documented! Wages are similar or lower than departments with similar services! Doctors don't have aid cars or fire engines! Our "tourists" support our community. We get the same service in their communities, we all pay similar amounts and tax rates are regulated by the State. COME TO THE MEETINGS, HEAR THE TRUTH, VOTE APPROVED!

STATEMENT PREPARED BY: Jon Wiseman

Rebuttal of statement for

As property values increase tax rates go down, BUT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT SPFD RECEIVES GOES UP 1%. EVEN IF YOU VOTE NO. SPFD chose to cover calls on 24 miles of I-90, ski slopes, trails but the district is only 7 miles. 90% of calls were out of district. Projected calls for 2004 will GO DOWN 28%.

If the levy passes, the cost to the AVERAGE homeowner is closer to a $100 increase.

VOTE NO.

STATEMENT PREPARED BY: John Kinnick, Bill Kaffenberger, Prue Hathaway

Complete Text of Resolution

RESOLUTION NO. 2004-25

AUTHORIZING ELECTION REGARDING TAX LIMITATION

WHEREAS, King and Kittitas Counties Fire Protection District No. 51 is charged with the responsibility for furnishing fire protection, and certain other emergency services; and

WHEREAS, said District has experienced growth in population and property improvements over the past few years, with a resultant growing demand for fire protection and suppression services, and other emergency services; and

WHEREAS, it is the judgment of the Board of Commissioners of this District that present service levels may become compromised in 2005 and subsequent calendar years unless the tax levy limitation of R.C.W. 84.55.010 is removed by a vote of the qualified electors of the District; and

WHEREAS, such limitation of services would be detrimental to the general public interest and welfare; now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of King – Kittitas County Fire Protection District No. 51 that there shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the District for their ratification or rejection, at a special election to be held in conjunction with the State wide General election on November 2, 2004 the question of whether or not the limitation on the regular property tax levy set forth in R.C.W. 84.55.010 should be made in 2004 for collection in 2005 and the Director of Elections of King and Kittitas Counties is requested to find that an emergency exists, to call a special election as aforesaid in the form of a ballot title substantially as follows:

KING AND KITTITAS COUNTIES FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 51

PROPOSITION 1: AUTHORIZING PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

Shall King and Kittitas Counties Fire Protection District No. 51 be authorized to levy a regular property tax of One Dollar and 00/100 ($1.00) per One Thousand Dollars ($1000.00) of true and fair valuation, to be levied in 2004, for collection in 2005? This shall not be construed to authorize and excess levy and shall be subject to otherwise statutory dollar rate limitations. Actual rate shall be determined by the Board of Commissioners.

YES _______

NO _______

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of King – Kittitas County Fire Protection District No. 51 that the King and Kittitas Counties Election Departments are hereby notified of the District’s intent to participate in the Voters pamphlets for the 2004 general election. Committees appointed to submit statements include the following people:

STATEMENT FOR _Jon Wiseman_(signed) 425-434-6504
____________________ PO Box 199
____________________ Snoqualmie Pass, WA
STATEMENT AGAINST __None______________ 98068-0199
____________________ __________________
____________________ SEE Attached Resolution
2004-26

DATED this 13th day of September, 2004.

King and Kittitas Counties Fire Protection District No. 51

__________________________________
CHRIS L. CAVIEZEL, Commissioner (signed)

__________________________________
WILLIAM POWERS, Commissioner (signed)

___________________________________
RICHARD T. SMITH, Commissioner (signed)
ADOPTED at a REGULAR meeting of the
Board of Commissioners of KING – KITTITAS
COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 51, held on
September 13th, 2004.

________________________________
JUDITH A. HEYER, Secretary (signed)

Updated: Oct. 11, 2004

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