Over the years I have expressed my appreciation of the quality of fire and rescue service we have in the city of Federal Way. South King Fire and Rescue is ranked as one of the very best in the state and receives a protection 2 classification. For you and me, that means our fire and rescue department has the manpower, equipment and the experience to respond quickly and with expertise to the emergency needs of our community. Our homeowner’s and property insurance rates are lower because of this.

Last summer, my wife took a bad fall and broke her hip. My call to 911 was answered with a fire department EMT coming through our door less than 10 minutes later. Taking care for the speed bumps in our area, she was transported to St. Francis Hospital and was in the emergency room in less than 25 minutes. After the surgery, the surgeon commented that the type of break she had could have been made worse if she had not been so expertly handled and transported.

Very few things in life are for free, and that is true about fire and rescue protection. Our fire department faces a $3.5 million shortfall this year. Should this continue, the quality of our present services are unsustainable.

Under Proposition One, the fire department is asking us to consider voting for a new formula to have our property tax rates determined. We owe it to the fire department to carefully consider this proposition.

Bob Kellogg, Federal Way