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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 - Fire Protection District 14 Proposition 2023-05 Restoring Property Tax Levy - General Election November 07, 2023Whatcom County Auditor's Office Whatcom County Courthouse 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 103 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 December 11, 2023 Election Results Receipt Diana Bradrick County Auditor Stacy Henthorn Chief Deputy Auditor Copies of the following proposition election results from the November 7, 2023 General Election, have been delivered to the Assessor's and Treasurer's Office: ■ City of Bellingham, Proposition No. 2023-02, Greenways 5 Levy ■ Fire Protection District 5, Proposition 2023-03, Property Tax Levy For Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services Fire Protection District 14, Proposition 2023-05, Restoring Property Tax Levy 0 Point Roberts Park and Recreation District 1, Proposition 2023-o6, Regular Property Tax Levies Receipt Acknowledged: Assessor's Office: I �- - ex&�� ��� Re ecca Xczar / Date Treasurer's Office: Steven Oliver Date Administration Elections Licensing Recording VVe gladly accept Auditor@co.whatcomma.us Elections@comhatcornma.us Ucensing@co.whatcomma.us Recorcling@comhatcorrlma.us relay calls. 360-778-5100 360-778-5102 360-778-5100 360-778-5100 Statement of Votes Cast by Geography Page: 1 of 1 Whatcom County, Washington, GENERAL 2023, Nov 07, 2023 2023-11-28 All Precincts, All Districts, All Counter Groups, All ScanStations, FD 14 Proposition 2023-05 Restoring 08:37:46 Property Tax Levy, All Boxes Total Ballots Cast: 1.833 Total Registered Voters: 159811 Choice Votes Vote % All Precincts FD 14 Proposition 2023-05 Restoring Property Tax Levy (Vote for 1) 1939 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 106 undervotes), 4561 registered voters, turnout 42.51 % Approved 1110 60.56% Neiecteu 723 39.44% Total 1833 100.00% Overvotes 0 Undervotes 106 STATE OF WASHINGTON ) ) ss COUNTY OF WHATCOM ) This is to certify that on November 7, 2023, there was held a special election in the Fire Protection District 14, Whatcom County, Washington, for the submission of a ballot measure to the voters for their approval or rejection. The results of the election were duly canvassed by the Whatcom County Canvassing Board on November 28, 2023, and the results of said canvass are as reads above. Dated this 6th day of December, 2023, Whatcom County, Washington. Diana Bradrick County Auditor Final Language Ballot Title Fire Protection District 14 Proposition 2023-05 Restoring Property Tax Levy The Board of Fire Protection District 14 adopted Resolution No. 2023-05 concerning a proposition to restore the District's regular property tax levy. This proposition would restore the District's regular property tax levy to $1.20 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation in 2023 (for collection in 2024) for each of the five succeeding years. The maximum allowable levy in 2028 shall serve as the base for subsequent levy limitations as provided by RCW 84.55. Should this proposition be: Approved Rejected Explanatory Statement Fire Protection District 14 seeks voter approval to restore its regular property tax levy to $1.20 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation in 2023 (for collection in 2024) and authorize an annual increase in the limit factor of up to 103% in each of the five subsequent years (but not to exceed $1.50 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation). This levy is the primary source of funding for fire and emergency medical services by Fire Protection District 14. Voter approval of Proposition 2023-05 will provide funding to maintain and increase the level of services currently provided. 0`10% Whatcom County Auditor's Office K,111"4 Ballot Measure Coversheet District Name: Whatcom County Fire Protection District No. 14 District Address: PO BOX 482 Sumas WA 98295 Contact Person t Contact Person z Jerry DeBruin, District Chief Jo Olson, Secretary Name & Title 360-599-2823 jdbruin@wcfd14.org Phone & email Attorney Information Richard A. Davis III, CSD Attorneys at Law Name & Title 360-671-1796 rdavis@csdlaw.com Phone & email Resolution with original signatures or a certified copy Explanatory Statement prepared by your attorney, not to exceed loo words "For" and "Against" Committee Appointment Forms Completed Ballot Measure Coversheet Complete if anything is missing... I understand that the deadline to submit the missing information is The Auditor's Office will not begin processing this ballot measure until all required documents have been submitted. Pr nter's Signature Name & Title 360-599*2823 jolson@wcfd14.org Phone & email Has your attorney prepared this ballot measure? (4 Yes © No Yes Yes Yes No JUL 31 202, Whatcom County Election ilFa- . Deputy Auditor's Signature This form is available in a fillable form on the Auditor's website: httpS:1 SNhdtCplslugt� u�[35g31p3Ski iCtdC��u[ses. WHATCOM COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 14 RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION OF LEVY GENERAL ELECTION RESOLUTION NUMBER 2023-06 Revision of 2023-05 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF WHATCOM COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 14 PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE DISTRICT AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD WITHIN THE DISTRICT ON NOVEMBER 7, 2023, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STATE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE SAME DATE, OF A PROPOSITION RESTORING THE DISTRICT'S REGULAR PROPERTY TAX TO AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1.20 PER $1,000.00 OF TRUE AND ASSESSED VALUATION IN 2023 AND ESTABLISHING A ONE HUNDRED THREE PERCENT LIMIT FACTOR SUBJECT TO OTHERWISE APPLICABLE STATUTORY LIMITATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING FIVE YEARS Background: WHEREAS, it is the judgment of the Board of Commissioners of the District that it is essential and necessary for the protection of the health and life of the residents of the District that the fire and emergency medical services be provided by the District. WHEREAS, The Board of Commissioners has determined that the accelerated demands for, and increasing costs of, providing services will necessitate the expenditure of revenues for improved capital facilities and firefighter safety, additional apparatus, maintenance and operations in excess of those which can be provided by the District's regular tax revenue levied at the current rate of approximately $0.75 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation of taxable property within the District as limited by the 101 % limitation. The District voters last approved a levy lid lift to S1.30 per thousand in 201& WHEREAS, The District experiences annual cost increases affecting its operations that reflect standard inflationary indices and that consistently exceed the statutory 101 % limitation on tax levy increases. WHEREAS, The District believes that it is reasonable to adopt a limit factor for years 2-6 of the levy lid lift period at a rate of 103% per year to help the District keep up with inflation in Whatcom County. WHEREAS, The Board of Commissioners has determined that 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 serve as the levy base for purposes of applying the limit factor established by RCW 84.55.010 in subsequent years. Resolution: NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of Whatcom County Fire Protection District No. 14 Whatcom County, Washington as follows: Section 1. It is necessary for the District to operate and maintain emergency fire and medical service vehicles, to acquire and improve station and other capital facilities and to retain properly 1 trained personnel equipped with proper firefighting and emergency medical equipment. The revenues generated by this lid lift will allow the District to cover the gap between inflation and the statutory one percent limit on increases to the District's budget to fund apparatus replacement and facility upgrades and to provide for investments in firefighter safety all of which are necessary to maintain and improve the level of fire protection, prevention, emergency medical services and the protection of life and property in the District. 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 improvement of such services the District shall, in accordance with RCW 84.55.050, remove the one percent limitation on regular property taxes imposed by RCW 84.55.010, and levy beginning in 2023 and collect beginning in 2024, pursuant to RCW 52.16.130, RCW 52.16.140 and RCW 52.16.160, a general tax on taxable property within the District at a rate of $1.20 per $1.000.00 of assessed valuation subject to otherwise applicable statutory limits. The $1.20 is lower than the District previously levied at the rate at $1.30 per thousand of assessed valuation in 2015. Section 3. In order to provide the revenue adequate to pay the costs of providing adequate life protection services and facilities as described in Section 1 and to maintain reserve funds sufficient to assure the continuation of such services beyond 2024, the District has determined that the limit factor for the five succeeding years shall be one hundred three percent (103%). Such percentage shall be used to determine the actual levy rate, subject to the maximum statutory rate of $1.50 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation, in 2024-2028. The funds raised under this levy shall not supplant existing funds used for the purposes described in Section 1. Section 4. The amount levied in 2028 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 5. There shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the District for their ratification or rejection, at an election on November 7, 2023, in conjunction with the state general election to be held on the same date the question of whether or not the regular property tax levy of the District should be set at to $1.20 per $1.000.00 of true and assessed valuation and be adjusted by 103% for each of the following five years, subject to otherwise applicable statutory limitations. Th. a Board of Commissioners hereby requests the auditor of Whatcom County, as ex-officio Supervisor of Elections, to call such election, and to submit the following proposition at such election, in the form of a ballot title substantially as follows: Whatcom County Fire Protection District No. 14 Proposition No.1 Restoring Property Tax Levy The Board of Whatcom County Fire Protection District No. 14 adopted Resolution No. 2023-05 concerning a proposition to restore the District's regular property tax levy. This proposition would restore the District's regular property tax levy to $1.20 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2023 (for collection in 2023) for each of the five succeeding years. 2 The maximum allowable levy in 2028 shall serve as the base for subsequent levy limitations as provided by Chapter 84.55 RCW. Should this proposition be: Approved Rejected Section 6. In accordance with RCW 84.55.050(1), the ballot measure shall require approval of a simple majority of voters. Section 7. The Board of Commissioners finds and declares that it is in the best interest of the District to have information regarding the ballot measure included in the local voters' pamphlet. Furthermore, that the appropriate costs thereof shall be paid for by the District. The Board of Commissioners further authorizes and directs the Fire Chief to provide such information to the County Elections department for inclusion and to take other actions as necessary to that end. The Board hereby assigns to the Chief or designee the task of appointing members to a committee to advocate voters' approval of the proposition and to a committee to prepare arguments advocating voters' rejection of the proposition. Section 8. For purposes of receiving notice of any matters related to the ballot title, as provided in RCW 29A.36.080, the Board hereby designates the Chief or designee as the individual to whom the County Auditor shall provide such notice. Section 9. The Chief or designee is authorized to implement such administrative procedures as may be necessary to carry out the directives of this resolution, including modifying the text of the ballot title and any other text, language and/or descriptions relative thereto necessary to conform such ballot title, text, language and/or descriptions to the intent of the parties, consistent with the objectives of this resolution. Section 10. The Chief, or designee, is hereby authorized and directed, no later than August 1, 2023, to provide to the County Auditor a certified copy of this resolution and the proper District officials are authorized to perform such other duties or take such other actions as are necessary or required by law to the end that the proposition described in this resolution appear on the ballot before the voters at the November 7, 2023 election. Section 11. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this resolution is declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution. Section 12. Any act consistent with the authority and prior to the effective date of this resolution is hereby ratified and affirmed. Section 13. This resolution shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its passage. Adoption: ADOPTED by the Board of Commissioners of Whatcom County Fire Protection District No. 14 at an open public meeting of such Board on the 13th day of June 2023, the following Commissioners being present and voting: Signatures: .14"- J-"� RobRoy Graha , Commissioner Chair Russell Vreugdenhil, Commissioner (A"r --)� Chris Moe, Commissioner Q-, Oon, District Administrator EXPLANATORY STATEMENT —PROPOSITION NO. 1 Whatcom County Fire District No. 14 seeks voter approval to restore its regular property tax levy to $1.20 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2023 (for collection in 2024) and authorize an annual increase in the limit factor of up to 103% in each of the five subsequent years (but not to exceed $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation). This levy is the primary source of funding for fire and emergency medical services by Whatcom County Fire District No. 14. Voter approval of Proposition 1 will provide funding to maintain and increase the level of services currently provided.