Do you remember what kind of phones you owned in 1992? Or what computers you used in the office?Technology over 20 years old is largely considered obsolete. It stands to reason, then, that even something more permanent like a radio network would need to be upgraded after two decades.
Proposition 1 on the ballot to be sent out this week would raise property taxes in King County to fund the replacement of the radio network used by emergency responders — police, firefighters and medics. While the system works fine now, it was built in 1992 and is only getting older. The company that has provided replacement parts will no longer do so after 2018. This tax increase would cost the median homeowner in King County about $26 a year for nine years.
With a list of endorsements that seems to include nearly every police and fire chief in King County, Proposition 1 appears to be an easy vote. Even the fire commissioners from south King County who wrote the statement against the measure in the voter’s guide say a new radio system is badly needed. However, they oppose the tax because of the effect it could have on small fire districts, which they say may be forced to lay off staff. While this might raise voters’ eyebrows, it shouldn’t cause Vashon residents concern.
Should this measure pass, King County would be allowed to lift its levy lid, or tax property owners at a higher rate than previously allowed by law. If smaller local agencies are at or near the tops of their own taxing lids, the new tax could take a bite out of their funding. However, officials at Vashon Island Fire & Rescue say that because the agency is in good financial shape and taxing at a far lesser rate than it could, there’s room for the county to levy more taxes here. This isn’t as true in a couple of other places, but even there, King County has promised to provide any needed funds, as long as property values don’t plummet.
This detail pointed out in the voters’ guide shouldn’t cause the measure to go down. It should, however, cause county officials to take notice. Fire commissioners throughout King County — including on Vashon — have been frustrated that they were not involved in early talks or even notified at a reasonable time about this project. Had they been, their concerns about the tax may have better considered and other funding options, such as a bond, might have been explored. Pete von Reichbauer, the only King County council member to vote against putting the measure before voters, called the lack of communication from the county executive’s office to fire districts “disappointing,” and Vashon officials would agree. But still, the tax on the ballot makes sense, and reliable communication for emergency responders is simply vital. Voters should approve this measure.
