A $4 million budget shortfall looms for South King Fire if the Fire Benefit Charge doesn’t receive 60% voter approval in the Aug. 6 primary election.

South King Fire Chief Dave Van Valkenburg and others held a “Coffee with the Chief” event July 31 at Poverty Bay Cafe so citizens could learn more about South King Fire’s services and the Fire Benefit Charge on the ballot.

Voters in Federal Way, Des Moines, unincorporated King County, and 12 miles of Puget Sound coastline will vote on Proposition 1, otherwise known as the Fire Benefit Charge. Van Valkenburg said the charge replaces the current tax used to fund South King Fire. According to the department, when a Fire Benefit Charge is in place, the regular tax levy is lowered from up to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $1 per $1,000. So it lowers regular property tax.

South King Fire also has a Maintenance and Operations Levy (M&O) that citizens have approved every four years dating back to 2012. If voters approve the Fire Benefit Charge, it will replace the need for another M&O Levy. The current M&O expires at the end of 2024.

Van Valkenburg said he’s been educating community members for a few months now and is hopeful that the Fire Benefit Charge will pass.

“We haven’t really had any negative feedback as it relates to the Fire Benefit Charge, which I think is partially because of our educational effort. I think it’s partly because the FBC is well thought out. It provides an avenue for the district to prepare for growth and continue to grow to meet the needs of the community,” Van Valkenburg said.

If the FBC does not pass, Van Valkenburg said they will put it on the November ballot, but if it still does not pass, then going into 2025, the department will operate at a $4 million shortfall. The chief said they still haven’t delved into what the cuts would be, but if the FBC does not pass, the department would need to eliminate some services to maintain its budget. This may include asking some people to retire early, which means fewer firefighters going out on calls, the chief said. Some positions would be deferred alongside large-scale purchases like new engines and aid cars, he said.

If it does not pass, an alternative to the FBC could be a maintenance and operations levy, which would add 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed home evaluation.

“Now, the downside to that is the maintenance and Operation Levy is funded just like the rest of the fire department is currently funded, an assessed valuation levy,” Van Valkenburg said. “So if assessed valuations are high, you will get a little bit more money. And that’s the beauty of the FBC. It’s easier for an FBC to adjust based on those rising and lowering of assessed values. It’s more consistent, and it lets us plan better.”

Van Valkenburg said if someone doesn’t know about the FBC, he would tell them to visit the South King Fire website to get their questions answered. If they have other questions, they can email or call SKF, he said.

“Remember to vote Aug. 6,” Van Valkenburg said. “The fire district is always very grateful for public support, and we’re asking for the public support one more time.”