San Juan County Fire District 4 (Lopez Island) Proposition 1: fire levy restored to $0.74 per $1,000

Official plain English statement

Lopez Island Fire & EMS (San Juan County Fire Protection District No.4) provides emergency fire protection and medical services to its citizens. Fire protection districts are authorized by law to levy at the rate of $1.50 per thousand of assessed value. The District's tax levy rate was previously approved by the voters at $.83 in 2013, and the rate has gradually eroded due to the statutory 101% limit on property taxes to the current rate of $.47. If approved by the voters, this proposition will authorize the District to restore its existing regular property tax levy rate to $.74 per thousand of assessed valuation for collection in 2027 and will allow the District to keep pace with inflation by replacing the statutory 101% limit factor with a limit factor of 103% each year for the following nine years, subject to statutory limits. At the end of the ten-year period, absent further voter approval, the fire department's tax levy will be subject to statutory 101% percent limit. The Board of Commissioners has determined that the tax levy and the revenue it will produce is necessary to maintain the current level of fire protection, fire suppression and emergency medical services while providing for the safety of our firefighters. The levy is subject to the property tax exemptions provided for qualifying seniors, veterans, and others under chapter 84.36 RCW