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Ballot question

King County Fire District 20 Proposition 1: $16 million facilities and apparatus bonds

On the ballot in
King County Fire Protection District No. 20
Vote
Yes or no
Election
Nov 3, 2026

The question, as printed on the ballot

The Board of Fire Commissioners of King County Fire Protection District No. 20 adopted Resolution No. 2026-002, concerning emergency response facilities to protect public health, life and property. This proposition would authorize the District to: improve emergency response support facilities and infrastructure on two sites owned by the District; renovate and modernize the existing fire station; acquire firefighting and emergency response apparatus; issue no more than $16,000,000 of general obligation bonds maturing within 20 years; and levy annual excess property taxes to repay the bonds, all as provided in Resolution No. 2026-002. Should this proposition be:

A “Yes” vote means

The fire district may issue up to $16 million in 20-year bonds, repaid by property taxes (about $0.28 per $1,000), to improve its fire station and sites and buy apparatus.

A “No” vote means

The fire district does not issue the bonds or levy the property taxes to repay them.

Official plain English statement

King County Fire Protection District No. 20 provides fire suppression and rescue services, emergency medical services, and fire prevention and community education to protect life and property from the adverse effects of fires, medical emergencies or exposure to dangerous conditions. The Board of Fire Commissioners has determined the inadequate size and aging and outdated facilities of the District, and the need to improve site security and resilience, operational readiness and efficiency, and community, firefighter and emergency responder safety, require the District to improve emergency response support facilities and infrastructure on two sites owned by the District. The improvements include renovating and modernizing the existing fire station, and acquiring firefighting and emergency response apparatus. If approved, this proposition would authorize no more than $16,000,000 of general obligation bonds that would mature within a maximum of 20 years and be repaid from annual excess property taxes. The estimated tax rate is approximately $0.28 per $1,000 of assessed value. Exemptions from taxes may be available to certain homeowners. For more information, contact the King County Department of Assessments, 206-296-3920. For questions about this measure, contact: Eric Hicks, Fire Chief, (206) 772-1430, [email protected]

Sources

The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.