SOUTH SNO. CO. FIRE & RESCUE RFA - Proposition No. 1 · Snohomish County

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Statement For · Shannon Sessions, Alex Johnson, and Steve Barnes

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Committee: Shannon Sessions, Alex Johnson, and Steve Barnes

South Snohomish County Regional Fire Authority (South County Fire) protects the communities of Brier, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace, and unincorporated South Snohomish County 24 hours every day. When seconds matter, firefighters respond to fires, medical emergencies, rescues, and disasters to save lives and property. An independent assessment found that two-thirds of South County Fire stations need major upgrades or replacement, and nearly half could become inoperable after a major earthquake. Many aging stations no longer meet today’s safety, security, or seismic standards. This bond measure is a responsible investment in our community’s future. It will replace aging fire stations, improve existing facilities, and build new stations in high-demand areas, to ensure emergency services remain reliable during major disasters and keep pace with increasing needs. Modern stations will also provide safer, more functional workplaces for firefighters, better protecting them from known carcinogens like diesel exhaust. Emergency calls have increased by more than 30% over the past decade, making dependable emergency facilities more important than ever. This bond is the result of years of careful planning. Investing now helps avoid more costly emergency repairs, preserves the high level of service residents expect, and ensures our community is prepared for the future. Fire stations are long-term community assets that serve generations. A vote in favor of this bond is a vote for stronger emergency response, safer firefighters, and a more resilient South Snohomish County.

Rebuttal of argument against

Voting no doesn’t make essential repairs less expensive; it delays them and increases future costs. South County Fire is already among the lowest-cost fire and EMS providers in Snohomish County. These needs have been studied for more than a decade, with repairs delayed by the pandemic. Meanwhile, population and emergency demands have grown. This bond funds aging station repairs, seismic upgrades, and new stations to maintain response times and keep firefighters safer.

Statement Against · Melinda Goforth, Mary Jane Goss, and Jim Landers

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Committee: Melinda Goforth, Mary Jane Goss, and Jim Landers

All communities need fire and emergency medical services. We agree that firefighters must have safe facilities. Firefighters are public servants and carry the public’s trust. Snohomish County Fire is jeopardizing that trust with this bond measure that, with interest, exceeds half a billion-dollars. There is a limit to what households can pay for services. $420M plus interest is too high an ask. $91.4M alone is for upgrades to headquarters, warehouses, and service buildings. We don’t dispute that improvements are needed, but like the rest of us, fire must prioritize and ensure competitive pricing when residents are facing an affordability crisis. Regional fire authorities have little incentive to contain costs. They levy their own property taxes and benefit charge tax. They collect hospital transport and service fees and issue bonds. The shift from city-led to this regional structure has triggered significant cost increases rather than savings and economies of scale. Following annexation, property taxes dramatically increased in all jurisdictions despite little population growth. Expansion has led to additional funding requests for new facilities, despite calls being 85% for emergency medical support versus 15% for fire suppression. Other regional fire authorities achieve high-quality service and modern facilities through administrative consolidation and shared facilities – not half-billion-dollar bond measures. Fire’s capital facilities plan says the number one priority is rebuilding six stations for $136.7M. With property taxes ever-increasing now, inflation, cost of living, rising unemployment and an affordability crisis, we need to be prudent and prioritize spending to the highest need. Vote No.

Rebuttal of argument for

It feels like the only financial strategy in the region is to increase taxes on residents. Costs are at all-time highs: housing, healthcare, food, insurance, repairs, education. Buying multiple additional fire houses now to defend against future inflation is unwise and unaffordable. The capital spending plan identifies priorities. Number one is replacement of six existing “high-risk” stations for $136.7 million. If future stations are needed for future population increases, come back to the voters then.