Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety fire benefit charge returns to ballot

The Aug. 1 primary election ballot will feature another go at the fire benefit charge

The Aug. 1 primary election ballot will feature another go at the fire benefit charge for the Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety, Fire District No. 43.

According to a release from the fire district, “A Fire Benefit Charge is a fee that is based on a property’s building size and use. It will replace some taxes paid by residents and businesses for the operation of the fire department.”

The measure was placed on the ballot in August of 2016 and failed to make the 60 percent supermajority needed to pass by about 2 percent.

Voting yes were 6,545, 57.94 percent and no were 4,752 , 42.06 percent.

According to the King County Elections website, 8,883 ballots were cast out of 26,713 registered voters, a 33 percent turnout of voters.

The Board of Commissioners approved placing the measure on the August ballot.

The fire district officials stated in the release that a benefit charges is a “very stable funding platform, it will allow Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety to continue the high level of emergency medical and fire services that the community has come to expect.”

The benefit charge is allowed by state law, RCW 52.18. The charge is based on the relative cost of providing fire department service to a property rather than assessed value. According to the 2016 description of the benefit charge, it is centered on “total square footage and projected fire flows required for all types of property, utilizing a consistent and industry-accepted formula.”

If the measure passes after six years it must be reauthorized by the voters.