The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2025 - Fire Protection District 7 Proposition 2025-08 Restoring Regular Property Tax Levy - General and Special Election November 05, 2025Summary Report Page: 1 of 1 Whatcom County, Washington, GENERAL 2025, Nov 04, 2025 2025-11-24 All Precincts, All Districts, All Counter Groups, All ScanStations, Fire Protection District 7 Prop 2025-08 16:44:08 Property Tax Levy, All Boxes Total Ballots Cast: 8153, Re istered Voters: 169242. Overall Turnout: 4.82% Choice Votes Vote % All Precincts Fire Protection District 7 Prop 2025-08 Property Tax Levy (Vote for 1) 8153 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 474 undervotes), 19518 registered voters, turnout 41.77% Yes 4882 63.58% No 2797 36.42% Total 7679 100.00% Overvotes 0 Undervotes 474 STATE OF WASHINGTON ) ) ss COUNTY OF WHATCOM ) A canvass of the votes cast by qualified voters in Fire Protection District 7 for the district's submitted ballot measure for the November 4, 2025 Special Election is complete. The results of the election were duly canvassed by the Whatcom County Canvassing Board on November 25, 2025, and the results of said canvass are above. Dated this 2nd day of December, 2025, Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington. Stacy Henth County Auditor Whatcom County Auditor's Office Whatcom County Courthouse 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 103 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 December 2, 2025 Election Results Receipt Stacy Henthorn County Auditor Amy Grasher Chief Deputy Auditor Copies of the following proposition election results from the November 4, 2025 General and Special Election, have been delivered to the Assessor's and Treasurer's Office: s City of Blaine, Proposition 2025-07, Reduction of City Limits a Bellingham School District 501, Proposition 2025-05, Supplemental Operations Levy Y Bellingham School District 501, Proposition 2025-o6, Facilities Maintenance Levy • Lynden School District 504, Proposition 2025-09, General Obligation Bonds m Fire Protection District 7, Proposition 2025-o8, Restoring Regular Property Tax Levy Fire Protection District 18, Proposition 2025-10, Property Tax Levy for Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services ft-�Acknowledged: Assessor's Office: LYE Rebecca Xczar Treasurer's Office: Steven Oliver Date /a-3-ana.S Date Final Language Ballot Title Fire Protection District 7 Proposition 2025-08 Restoring Regular Property Tax Levy The Board of Fire Commissioners of Fire Protection District 7 adopted Resolution No. 25-0710-01 concerning a proposition to restore the District's regular property tax levy. This measure would restore the District's regular property tax levy to $1.20 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation in 2025 (for collection in 2026) and would authorize an annual limit factor of 106% (but not to exceed the $1.50 rate) for each of the five succeeding years. The maximum allowable levy in 2030, collected in 2031, shall serve as the base for subsequent levy limitations as provided by Chapter 84.55 RCW. Should this proposal be approved? Yes No Explanatory Statement Fire Protection District 7 seeks voter approval to restore its fire levy to $1.20 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation in 2025 and to increase its annual revenue by an amount up to 106% in each of the five subsequent years. The dollar amount of the levy in the sixth year would be used to calculate future increases. In the absence of voter approval, the District may only increase its annual revenue by 101% over the prior year. Voter approval will provide funding for the District to continue providing fire and emergency medical services at existing levels. District Name: District Address: Contact Person 1 Whatcom County Auditor's Office Ballot Measure Coversheet Whatcom County Fire Protection District No. 7 2020 Washington Street Ferndale, WA 98248 Ben Boyko - Fire Chief Name & Title 360-384-0303 bboyko@wcfd7.org Phone & email Matt T. Paxton Name 360-671-1796 mpaxton@csdlaw.com Phone & email Resolution wig th original signatures or a certified copy Explanatory Statement prepared by your attorney, not to exceed 100 words Committee Appointment Forms separate forms for each committee r Completed Ballot Measure Coversheet Auditor's Office Um— --- Received By Email JUL 2 5 2025 Whatcom County Elections 1;?-025--01� Contact Person 2 Patty Markel - Finance Administrator Name &Title 360-384-0303 pmarkel@wcfd7.org Phone & email Has your attorney prepared this ballot measure? OYes O No Yes O No Yes O No no Yes l J No Yes O No Missing document(s): I understand that the submittal deadline date for the missing documents is and the Auditor's Office will not begin processing this ballot measure until all documents have been submitted. Prop 'lion/ifi.tuVe 4er — - Presenter's Signature r _ Deputy Audi Reviewed 12/12/2023 Received By Email JUL 2 5 2025 Whatcom County Elections WHATCOM COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO.7 RESOLUTION NO. 25-0710-01 A RESOLUTION of the Board of Fire Commissioners of Whatcom County Fire Protection District No. 7 (the "District"), providing for the submission to the voters of the District at the general election to be held therein on November 4, 2025, a proposition authorizing a regular property tax levy of $1.20 per $1,000 for the provision of fire and emergency services. This proposition would authorize the District to impose a regular property tax levy of $1.20 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for 2025 and thereafter and to provide for a limit factor pursuant to RCW 84.55.050 and subject to any otherwise applicable statutory dollar rate limitations, all as more particularly set forth herein. WHEREAS, the District's provision of fire and emergency medical services is essential and necessary for the protection of the health and life of the residents of the District, which requires expenditure of revenues for maintenance, operations, and equipment; WHEREAS, under Chapter 84.55 RCW, the District's levy increases are limited by state law to an increase of 101% per year, plus the increase in assessed valuation from new construction, improvements, to property, and other specified adjustment, unless the voters of the District approve a greater increase; WHEREAS, RCW 84.55.050(2) allows the District to increase the regular property tax levy in amounts exceeding the levy lid in each of up to six (6) consecutive years, if the increase is approved by a majority of the voters at an election to be held within the taxing district in conjunction with the state primary or general election. WHEREAS, a six (6) year levy lid lift is needed for it to be able to maintain its present service levels to its citizens; WHEREAS, the application of the one hundred one percent (101 %) limit factor established by RCW 84.55.010 would not be sufficient to provide for the expected cost increases required to maintain and increase the level of services currently provided by the District; WHEREAS, the funds generated by this levy will not supplant existing funds used for the delivery of fire and emergency services; WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the District that the maximum allowable levy in the sixth year of the levy authorized by this Resolution serves as the levy base for purposes of applying the limit factor established by RCW 84.55.010 in subsequent years; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, as follows: SECTION 1. That the District shall provide fire and emergency services, including related personnel costs, training for such personnel, and related equipment, supplies, vehicles, and structures needed for the provision of fire and emergency services. SECTION 2. In order to provide the revenue adequate to pay the costs of maintaining and providing the services described in Section 1 and to assure the continuation and -1- improvement of such services the District shall, in accordance with RCW 84.55.050, remove the limitation on regular property taxes imposed by RCW 84.55.010 and levy beginning in 2025 and collect beginning in 2026, pursuant to RCW 52.16.130 and RCW 52.16.140, a general tax on taxable property within the District at a rate of $1.20 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation. SECTION 3. The District has determined that a limit factor of one hundred and six percent (106%) shall be used to determine the actual levy rate, subject to the maximum statutory rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2026 (for collection in 2027) — 2030 (for collection in 2031). The funds raised under this levy shall not supplant existing funds used for the purposes described in Section 1. SECTION 4. There shall be, submitted to the qualified electors of the District for their ratification or rejection at an election on November 4, 2025, the question of whether or not such levy shall be made. SECTION 5. The dollar amount levied in 2030 for collection in 2031 shall serve as the District's tax levy base for purposes of applying the limit factor established by RCW 84.55.010 in subsequent years. SECTION 6. The District's attorney is authorized to make such minor adjustments to the wording of such proposition as deemed appropriate or as may be recommended by the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney's Office or the Whatcom County Auditor and its Supervisor of Elections, as long as the intent of the proposition remains clear and as approved by the Board of Commissioners. SECTION 7. Pursuant to RCW 84.55.050 and 29A.36.071, the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney is requested to prepare the concise description of the aforesaid proposition for the ballot title in substantially the following form: PROPOSITION NO. 1 WHATCOM COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 7 RESTORING REGULAR PROPERTY TAX LEVY The Board of Fire Commissioners of Whatcom County Fire Protection District No. 7 adopted Resolution No. 25-0710-01 concerning a proposition to restore the District's regular property tax levy. This measure would restore the District's regular property tax levy to $1.20 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation in 2025 (for collection in 2026) and would authorize an annual limit factor of 106% (but not to exceed the $1.50 rate) for each of the five succeeding years. The maximum allowable levy in 2030, collected in 2031, shall serve as the base for subsequent levy limitations as provided by Chapter 84.55 RCW. Should this proposal be approved? YES. ... ... ..... ❑ NO.............. _ ❑ SECTION 8. The Secretary of the District is directed (a) to certify to the Auditor a copy of this Resolution No. 25-0710-01 showing its adoption by the Board by August 5, 2025; and (b) to perform such other duties as are necessary and required by law in submitting to the voters of the District at the aforesaid election the proposition of whether such tax levy shall be made. -2- SECTION 9. The Fire Chief of the District is authorized to implement such administrative procedures as may be necessary to carry out the directives of this legislation. SECTION 10. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect upon passage and signatures hereon. SECTION 11. If any provision of this resolution is declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, then such provision shall be null and void and shall be severable from the remaining provisions of this resolution, and shall in no way affect the validity of the other provisions of this resolution. ADOPTED by the Governing Board of Whatcom County Fire Protection District No. 7, at an open public meeting thereof this 101 day of July, 2025, of which notice was given in the manner provided by law, the following Commissioners being present and voting. WHATCOM COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 7 By: JEricrant, Commissioner]j dra Cristelli, Commissioner 13 •L f Mike Murphy, Commis lone 511 ATTEST: Patty Markel, Djs riot Secre ary Board of Fire Commissioners CERTIFICATION I, the undersigned, Secretary of Whatcom County Fire Protection District No. 7, (the "District"), hereby certify as follows: The attached copy of Resolution No. 25-0710-01(the "Resolution") is a full, true, and correct copy of the Resolution duly adopted at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the District (the "Board") held on July 10, 2025, as the Resolution appears on the minute book of the District and the Resolution is now in full force and effect. 2. A quorum of the members of the Board was present throughout the meeting and a majority of those members present voted in the proper manner for the adoption of the Resolution. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 1011 day of July, 2025. pn, -.1 L )�/?/2 �� Patty Markel, stri Se retary Board of Corn issioners -4- EXPLANATORY STATEMENT Whatcom County Fire Protection District No. 7 (the "District") seeks voter approval to restore its fire levy to $1.20 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2025 (for collection in 2026) and to increase its annual revenue by an amount up to 106% in each of the five subsequent years. The dollar amount of the levy in the sixth year would be used to establish the base amount for calculating 1 % increases in the future This levy is the primary source of funding for emergency services provided by the District. Voter approval of Proposition No. 1 will provide funding for the District to continue providing fire and emergency medical services at existing levels. In the absence of voter approval, the District may only increase its annual revenue by 101 % over the prior year. Approval of this proposition would allow the District to maintain the level of services it provides. Rejection of this proposition will impact the District's ability to continue the level of services. Explanatory Statement Prepared by the District attorney: Matt T. Paxton (WSBA#46369) CSD Attorneys at Law, P.S. 1500 Railroad Ave. Bellingham, WA 98225 -5- EXPLANATORY STATEMENT Whatcom County Fire Protection District No. 7 seeks voter approval to restore its fire levy to $1.20 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2025 and to increase its annual revenue by an amount up to 106% in each of the five subsequent years. The dollar amount of the levy in the sixth year would be used to calculate future increases. In the absence of voter approval, the District may only increase its annual revenue by 101% over the prior year. Voter approval will provide funding for the District to continue providing fire and emergency medical services at existing levels. Explanatory Statement Prepared by the District attorney: Matt T. Paxton (WSBA#46369) CSD Attorneys at Law, P.S. 1500 Railroad Ave. Bellingham, WA 98225 -1-