Voters in Kent, Covington and Fire District 37 will decide on the April 26 ballot (Proposition No. 1) whether the Kent Fire Department Regional Fire Authority can continue for another six years its fire benefit charge against property owners to help pay for fire services.
The fee is a variable rate based on the square footage and the amount of resources needed to provide emergency services to each house or business.
King County Elections mailed out ballots this week. Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day.
Voters in 2010 approved the formation of the Regional Fire Authority (RFA) with 72 percent in favor of funding the agency through a property tax levy and a new fire benefit charge. Previously, Kent funded its fire department through the general fund. Covington and Fire District 37 contracted with Kent for services.
Just as in 2010, a 60 percent approval vote will be needed to pass the April measure. The RFA also serves the city of SeaTac, but that city contracts at about $9 million a year with the RFA for services so residents there will not vote on the proposition.
The property tax levy of $1 per $1,000 assessed valuation covers the majority of the RFA’s operating budget. The fire benefit charge in 2016 will cover 46 percent of the budget. By state law, a fire benefit charge cannot exceed 60 percent of the operating budget.
The renewal of the fee would allow the RFA to continue its current service levels as well as help pay for equipment and facilities.
Fire Chief Jim Schneider said that fees are set based on what it would take to put out a fire. Fees vary at each property, so land owners would need to check their tax bills to see how much they pay now. That fee could go up or down depending on RFA budget needs.
“If we come to your house, it would take two engines, a ladder truck and a battalion chief, so you pay for that, and it’s all worked out,” Schneider said. “If we go to a commercial building that takes four engines, a ladder truck, a haz mat team and a battalion chief, you pay for that.”
Schneider said the property tax rate can only go up 1 percent each year under state law, so the RFA adjusts its fire benefit charge to cover the differences in the budget.
If the voters turn down the fire benefit fee extension, the RFA would lose about $10 million in revenue and need to cut about 75 firefighters and staff, Schneider said.
The RFA is overseen by a board that includes three Kent City Council members, three Fire District 37 commissioners, and one non-voting advisory board member from the cities of Covington and SeaTac.
For more information, go to kentfirerfa.org.
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