King County Local Voters Pamphlet

Sept. 14, 2004 Special Elections

PROPOSITION NO. 1
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION SUPPORT EXCESS LEVY

The Board of Fire Commissioners of King County Fire Protection District No. 17, King County, Washington adopted Resolution No. R-04-141 concerning a proposition to finance maintenance and operation support expenses. This proposition authorizes the District to levy the following excess property taxes on all taxable property within the District to pay part of the District’s maintenance and operation support expenses, all as provided in Resolution No. R-04-141.

Should this proposition be approved?

YES
NO

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

If approved by the voters, the proposition will authorize the District to levy excess real property taxes at approximately $.61 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. This excess levy is in addition to the regular property tax. The levy is an excess levy therefore not subject to the statutory limitations imposed by RCW 84.52.050 through 056, and RCW 84.52.043.

The District Board has found that the tax levy and the revenue it will produce is necessary to maintain the current level of service and to provide for maintenance and operation support expenses and to provide for replacement of equipment and apparatus anticipated by the Emergency Services Operating Agreement between Fire District No. 17 and the City of Black Diamond. Fire and emergency services will continue to be provided by the Black Diamond Fire Department pursuant to the Emergency Services Operating Agreement, an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement.

If the levy is approved the amount raised by the excess levy on a $100,000 assessed valuation residence will be approximately $61.00 each year, or approximately $5.08 per month for the emergency services. This levy is for four years and will terminate at the end of 2008.

Complete Text of Resolution

KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 17
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON

RESOLUTION NO. 04-141

A RESOLUTION of the Board of Fire Commissioners of King County Fire Protection District No. 17, King County, Washington, providing for the submission to the voters of the District at a special election to be held therein on September 14, 2004, in conjunction with the State primary election to be held on the same date, of a proposition authorizing an excess tax levy to be made in 2004 through 2007 for collection in 2005 through 2008 on all of the taxable property within the District at the rate of $0.61 per $1,000 of assessed value (such assessed value representing 100% of true and fair value unless specifically provided otherwise by law), in excess of the maximum tax levy specified by law for fire protection districts without a vote of the electors, and $0.61 per $1,000 for collection in each of years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, for the District’s Expense Account, the proceeds of such levy to be used to pay part of the District’s expenses of operation, services and maintenance, all as more particularly set forth herein. The amount of the excess tax levy based on estimated property values will be as follows: 2005 $71,016; 2006 $74,567; 2007 $78,295; 2008 $82,210.

WHEREAS, the Board of Fire Commissioners (the “Board”) of King County Fire Protection District No. 17, King County, Washington (the “District”) has determined that the level of service for fire and emergency services that the District wishes to provide to it’s citizens, cannot be met unless additional funds for operations, maintenance, equipment and facilities, are made available through an increase in the levy rate; and

WHEREAS, the City of Black Diamond has determined that a similar levy should be proposed to the citizens of the City of Black Diamond; and

WHEREAS, the District and the City operate the Fire Department pursuant to the terms of an Emergency Services Operating Agreement between the City of Black Diamond and King County Fire District 17, dated October 3, 2002; and

WHEREAS, this levy proposal is necessary to meet the District’s contractual obligation pursuant to said Agreement, to raise enough money to meet the District’s obligation to contribute toward the budget of the Fire Department, all as provided in the Emergency Services Operating Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Constitution and the laws of the State of Washington require that the question of whether or not such taxes may be levied must be submitted to the qualified electors of the District for their ratification or rejection; and

WHEREAS, RCW 84.52.130 authorizes the voters of the District to submit the proposition authorizing the excess levy to the voters; and

WHEREAS, without the excess levy the District will not be able to continue to provide the existing level of service during this period; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 17, KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON, as follows:

Section 1. It is found and declared that an emergency exists requiring the calling of a special election and the Manager of the Records and Elections Division of King County, Washington, as ex officio Supervisor of Elections, is requested to find and declare the existence of an emergency. The Manager of the Records and Elections Division of King County further is requested to call and conduct a special election in the District, in the manner provided by law, to be held therein on September 14, 2004, in conjunction with the State primary election to be held on the same date, for the purpose of submitting to the voters of the District, for their approval or rejection, a proposition of whether or not an excess tax levy shall be made in 2004 through 2007 for collection in 2005 through 2008 on all of the taxable property of the District at the rate of $0.61 per $1,000 of assessed value each year (such assessed value representing 100% of true and fair value unless specifically provided otherwise by law), in excess of the maximum levy provided by law for fire protection districts without a vote of the electors. The amount of the excess tax levy based on estimated property values will be as follows: 2005 $71,016; 2006 $74,567; 2007 $78,295; 2008 $82,210.

Section 2. Pursuant to RCW 29.79.055, as amended, the King County Prosecuting Attorney is requested to prepare the concise description of the aforesaid proposition for the ballot title in substantially the following form:

PROPOSITION 1

KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 17
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON

OPERATION, SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE EXCESS LEVY

The Board of Fire Commissioners of King County Fire Protection District No. 17, King County, Washington, adopted Resolution No. R-04-141 concerning a proposition to finance operation, services and maintenance expenses. This proposition would authorize the District, to levy excess property taxes at the levy rate of $0.61 per $1,000 of assessed value upon all taxable property within the District for collection in 2005 through 2008 for paying part of the District’s Expense Account operation, services and maintenance expenses, all as provided in Resolution No. R-04-141. The amount of the excess tax levy based on estimated property values will be as follows: 2005 $71,016; 2006 $74,567; 2007 $78,295; 2008 $82,210.
Should this proposition be approved?

LEVY…..YES [ ]
LEVY…..NO [ ]

Section 3. The Secretary of the District is directed (a) to certify to the Manager of the Records and Elections Division of King County a copy of this Resolution No. R-04-141 showing its adoption by the Board at least 45 days prior to the date of such special election; and (b) to perform such other duties as are necessary or required by law to the end that the question of whether or not such excess tax levy shall be made as herein provided for shall be submitted to the voters of the District at the aforesaid election.

ADOPTED by the Board of Fire Commissioners of King County Fire Protection District No. 17, King County, Washington, at a regular open public meeting thereof, this 12th day of July, 2004, the following Commissioners being present and voting in favor of the resolution.

KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
NO. 17
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON

________________________________________
Chariman and Commissioner (signed)

________________________________________
Commissioner (signed)

ATTEST:

_________________________
Patty Kramlich (signed)
Secretary of the District

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