After disagreement, Edmonds to resume $6M in payments to RFA
Published 1:30 am Monday, August 4, 2025
EVERETT — The city Edmonds has agreed to pay nearly $6 million to South County Fire for fire and emergency medical services for seven months of 2025.
On June 1, the city officially annexed into the regional fire authority after voters approved an April ballot measure. At the time, the city believed it would no longer need to pay for fire services, City Attorney Jeff Taraday wrote in a June 9 letter to South County Fire attorney Richard Davis. But in late May, the city received a $854,000 invoice from South County Fire for services through the month of June. The city paused payments until the disagreement was resolved.
On July 23, the city paid $1.7 million to South County Fire, according to payments listed in the Aug. 4 City Council meeting agenda packet. This information was first reported in My Edmonds News.
The payments cover fire services for June and July, city spokesperson Neil Neroutsos wrote in an email to The Daily Herald on Monday. In another letter to Davis on July 18, Taraday said the city now agrees with South County Fire’s position that the city should pay for services through 2025 after reviewing the pre-annexation agreement.
In November 2024, the city received a revised version of the agreement from South County Fire that changed the clause regarding contract payments, Taraday wrote. The city had originally proposed explicit language that said it would not be responsible for payments for the rest of 2025.
“In other words, the city sought that concession from SCF, but it was ultimately rejected,” he wrote.
In January 2026, residents will begin paying South County Fire directly through property taxes. The annexation will increase property taxes by about $62 per month for the median household.
At about $854,000 per month, contract payments for June through December will total nearly $6 million. The extra payments come as the city faces a $13 million budget deficit. Annexation was one step in addressing the shortfall, and voters will decide on a $14.5 million property tax levy lid lift in November.
South County Fire has received the payments and expects the city to continue making payments through the rest of the year, South County Fire spokesperson Christie Veley confirmed in an email Monday.
Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.
