South King Fire and Rescue bond failing by 3 percent

Published 2:57 pm Wednesday, April 29, 2015

As of April 29, the $53.7 million South King Fire and Rescue Proposition 1 measure is behind by 3 percentage points needed for a supermajority of 60 percent. A total of 8,790 voters approved the bond at 57.42 percent, while 6,517 voters rejected it at 42.58 percent.

The election won’t be certified until 4:30 p.m. on May 12 before the King County special election closes.

“I’m very hopeful [it will pass] but realistically we’re also planning to work with our elected officials, the board of commissioners, to determine the next steps if it doesn’t pass,” said South King Fire and Rescue Chief Allen Church, noting the next steps will be to discuss potential changes to the bond in pricing, timing and whether they can afford to use capital reserves to purchase what is absolutely needed in the mean time.

If it passes, the bond will replace technical equipment, facilities and vehicles, as well as fund the construction of an additional fire station and a new fleet maintenance shop.

The next board of fire commissioners meeting is May 26.

A bond for the South King Fire and Rescue district hasn’t passed since 1992, and with the growing population expected to skyrocket in the next few years, fire officials say this bond is greatly needed in order to maintain citizens’ safety.

Currently, firefighters respond to more than 17,000 emergency calls in the district a year and an update on safety equipment will ensure safety standards are met.

King County Paramedics, Des Moines Police Foundation, Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, the Federal Way school board, the Des Moines mayor and council, and the legislators of the 30th Legislative District all endorse the measure.

The proposed 20-year general obligation bond would cost taxpayers who own a house valued at $250,000, $6.50 a month or $78 a year.

But opponents of the bond say the funds will be used to build an empire, “stroking egos and pensions of [South King Fire and Rescue] leadership, while compensating for a decade of poor financial decisions.”

Those against the bond state the fire district’s leadership will waste tax funds on gas guzzling fire trucks that merely make trips to the grocery store instead of helping people, an unfounded accusation.

However, it may not be the opponent’s statement against the bond that’s hurting Proposition 1.

What’s also on this ballot is King County’s levy lid lift, and property tax increase, which would fund the region’s emergency public safety radio network. It is passing by 65 percent and only needs 50 percent to pass.

“Did it create confusion? It’s really hard to say,” Church said. “I knew with a measure going county-wide, there would be a lot of support up north. Whether it caused issues down here, it’s too early to say.”

The current network completed in 1997, will be replaced by a system called the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network.

For the first of nine years, beginning in 2016, King County residents will be taxed an additional 7 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation.

Church said South King Fire and Rescue won’t give up and that he’s positive about the nearly 6 out of 10 votes Proposition 1 has received.

“We’ll regroup and come back with another plan,” he said. “What that plan is, I’m not sure.”