Literally, no room for a change on fire district’s tax bills

EVERETT — Snohomish County Fire District 1 wants to change how it charges property owners, in a way the district says could be fairer for most taxpayers.

There’s a hitch, though. Even if voters give the thumbs up, there’s no room for another charge on the tax bills sent by the Snohomish County’s treasurer’s office.

The fire district is concerned that having two separate tax statements might “cause taxpayer confusion,” according to an Oct. 6 resolution by the board. So the district “regrettably deferred” attempting a 2015 ballot measure asking voters to approve the new tax.

Now, fire district staff are working with the county to see if more room can be found on the tax form. That might mean using a smaller font. Fonts were being tested down to size 6 — half the size most commonly used for business communication. Still, they’d be left with the same number of lines for room — about a dozen.

“The only way to increase the lines is to get a legal-sized statement, which would be cumbersome and cost more to send out,” County Treasurer Kirke Sievers said. “If we agree with them, all of the other fire districts would want to do the same thing.”

The current font size used is 10, and “I get enough calls from the elderly who can’t read the statement now,” he said.

District officials hope to figure out a solution in early 2016, fire board Chairman Jim Kenny said. “Nothing’s been fixed yet,” he said.

It took the fire commissioners a few months to figure out their next step after they hit roadblocks this spring. The proposed tax is called a “benefit charge” under state law and would replace part of the fire levy. Some fire departments have adopted the model in King and Pierce counties.

Earlier this year, District 1 Fire Chief Ed Widdis said the benefit charge would be calculated based on the size and type of buildings, instead of assessed value. That means owners of commercial buildings and apartment complexes would pay more than single-family homeowners. Fire districts can’t adopt the charge without a public vote and a supermajority — 60 percent — in support.

Widdis in May said that a number of public meetings also showed the district needed more time to talk to people about the proposal.

The change would affect people in the district’s unincorporated areas south of Everett, but not those living in the contract cities of Brier, Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace. More public hearings will follow, Kenny said.

One thing the fire district hasn’t produced yet is a formula, including a promised online calculator, for people to figure out how their fire taxes would change. They haven’t gotten that far yet, Kenny said.

The ballot measure could appear in 2016, if the font size and other details get figured out. The county might consider allowing the district to combine the new charge with its old charge on the tax bills, Kenny said.

“If they can be consolidated together on the same line, if they can, if they agree, we have a non-technical solution to the problem,” Kenny said.

However, county prosecutors reviewed state laws, and they’re not sure such a move would be legal, Sievers said.

If something doesn’t get worked out in the next few months, the idea might be tabled until the county does a software upgrade that will allow them to reconfigure the tax forms. That’s expected to wrap up in 2017.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.