Becca Most
The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)
(TNS)
Oct. 2—Lakewood, University Place and Steilacoom residents will see decreases in their property taxes if voters approve a new way to fund the fire department in November.
West Pierce Fire & Rescue is asking voters to consider a new funding mechanism with Proposition 1. Currently the department is funded through an EMS Levy, a regular levy and a maintenance and operations levy. The department proposes to keep the EMS Levy, reduce the regular levy rate by 33% and eliminate the maintenance and operations levy that was approved by voters in 2023, replacing it with a new Fire Benefit Charge.
Rather than taxing property owners by assessed value, under the Fire Benefit Charge property owners would pay a fee based on their structure’s size, use and fire risk.
The change would reduce property taxes overall and make the cost for fire services more equitable, Fire Chief Jim Sharp told the Lakewood City Council on Sept. 23. Homeowners would pay less and larger commercial and industrial properties would generally pay more under the change.
Larger buildings or structures have greater fire risks and costs associated with extinguishing fires compared to smaller buildings and single-family homes, Sharp said. Under the current taxation model a residential home and commercial building with the same assessed value but different square footage pay the same amount, which is inequitable, he said. Residential homes with the same square footage but different assessed values also don’t pay the same rates, despite the cost and resources to put out a fire likely being the same, he said.
A Fire Benefit Charge would more fairly distribute costs for fire protection services based on the building’s size, its use and risk of fire, Sharp said. It does not apply to vacant land.
Examples Sharp shared included two residential homes, both 2,594 square feet but with different assessed values of $479,600 and $1,500,100. Currently the $1,500,100 homeowner pays over three times as much as the first home to the fire department in taxes. Under the Fire Benefit Charge both property owners would pay the same amount and less than they’re currently paying, he said.
Under the current tax levies, a 2,594-square-foot home valued at $1,500,100 pays the same amount to the fire department as a 13,600-square-foot commercial building with an assessed value of $1,504,100, Sharp said. With a Fire Benefit Charge, the homeowner would pay less and the commercial building owner would pay more based on the building’s size, use and fire risk.
In Pierce County, Central Pierce Fire & Rescue, Graham Fire & Rescue and Orting Valley Fire & Rescue all use a Fire Benefit Charge, according to an online FAQ about the measure. More than 35 cities and fire districts across the state use a Fire Benefit Charge to fund emergency services.
If 60% of voters approve Proposition 1 on Nov. 5, the Fire Benefit Charge would be in place for six years. Voters would decide whether to extend it in 2030.
If it’s not approved, the current regular fire levy would continue with no reduction and the maintenance and operations levy would continue through 2027, according to the FAQ. No statement was submitted against the measure in the county voters’ pamphlet.
“What we’re proposing is a shift from what has been really a fundamental way of funding our fire department for some 50 years,” Sharp said Sept. 23 in a presentation to the council. “A lot of this is driven by what we are hearing from the community, and a desire to see some reduction in property taxes.”
Under the new measure about 80% of the homeowners in West Pierce County would see a reduction in total payment to the fire department, Sharp said. Those who already receive property tax exemptions or discounts would continue to under the new measure, he said.
Learn more about how to register to vote and where your nearest ballot box is online at the Pierce County Elections website.
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