Early primary election results showed voters in the Federal Way and Des Moines area approving South King Fire and Rescue’s $3.75 million maintenance and operations levy.
The levy, known as Proposition 1 on the ballots, is passing with more than 65 percent of the vote so far as of Aug. 4, according to King County Elections.
The M&O levy is a general tax on the taxable property within the district of $3,750,000 — which is about $0.19 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation to be collected first in 2021 and for three consecutive years after.
Replacing the expiring levy of $0.14 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, the new levy raises the total levy rate by 5 cents.
The fire district now has the authorization to tax residents 19 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2021, 18 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2022, 17 cents in 2023 and 16 cents in 2024.
Approved for four-year periods, the levy will help fund $5 million in capital equipment and facility replacements needed over the next several years, including four fire engines nearing the end of their 20-year reliable service term, according to SKFR Commissioner Dave Berger.
The M&O levy funds 10% of South King Fire’s total budget.
“In preparation of our 2021 budget, preserving existing services to the community will be at the top of the list,” said South King Fire Chief Vic Pennington. “The passage of the M&O levy was significant and necessary to re-instate our Capital Improvement Plan.”
The aging fire engines, a fire boat in dire need of replacement, and personal protective equipment (PPE) are a few items that SKFR members will begin working to address.
The funds may also used for other capital replacement needs such as PPE, rescue tools, radios and other technology devices.
Approval of the levy also helps prevent reduction in both staffing and services to the areas of Federal Way, Des Moines and unincorporated King County, department officials said.
In July, South King Fire reduced staffing of the aid car service at Station 63, serving the Twin Lakes area of Federal Way. Pennington said this “was just one of several temporary cost-saving measures we put into place due to COVID-19 and significant delays in property tax collections.”
While aid services to the area were not entirely eliminated, the department could not afford to pay overtime for the long term to staff the aid car when staffing numbers were low and the department’s revenue was down.
“The passage of the M&O is one factor in considering how we staff that unit 24/7 without interruption,” Pennington said.
An Aug. 14 letter to Local 2024 Union President Ryan Herrera sent by Assistant Chief Kevin Crossen states staffing will increase to the previous level of a minimum of 29 members on duty (up from 27 during recent months) and Aid Car 363 will resume full staffing effective Sept. 1.
Due to COVID-19, the SKFR team is monitoring the revenue stream, expenses and property valuations for next year, he said. The chief also hopes to remove all temporary budget holds, but the pandemic brings a level of uncertainty.
“I am personally humbled and thankful for the overwhelming support from the communities we serve,” Pennington said. “We thank the public and want them to know we will continue to ensure proper stewardship of their taxpayer dollars.”
In addition to capital replacement, the department will be able to maintain appropriate staffing levels to continue to provide the best emergency services to the local communities, Pennington said.
