Edmonds council votes to put fire annexation on the ballot

EDMONDS — Edmonds voters will decide in April whether the city should annex into South County Fire.

By a vote of 6-1, the Edmonds City Council passed a motion Tuesday to put the future of the city’s fire service on the ballot. Council member Michelle Dotsch cast the sole opposing vote.

The move comes after some residents had urged the council to consider other options, such as reinstating the city’s own fire department that disbanded in 2009, in an effort to avoid large property tax increases.

Last year, South County Fire informed city officials it would end its contract with Edmonds at the end of 2025 due to the increased financial demand of serving the city. Edmonds is the only city that still has a separate contract with the regional fire authority.

South County Fire approved an amended pre-annexation agreement earlier Tuesday evening, addressing concerns about property and vehicles if Edmonds eventually decides to de-annex from the authority. Edmonds could take back its fire stations for free and buy fire engines and other vehicles from South County Fire at fair market value.

Council President Vivian Olson said annexation is the best option because of the city’s financial crisis as it tries to bridge a $13 million deficit.

“At this point in time, doing our own fire department, in my opinion, is a bad idea,” Olson said. “I think it probably would take 12 to 20 years before you would break even from the upfront costs. You’re asking for all of this additional peril.”

In response to public comments claiming annexation would be “taxation without representation,” Olson added residents would be able to elect at least one representative to the South County Fire Board of Commissioners. The representative would not be able to vote.

Dotsch said she voted against the motion because she hoped the council would pursue extending its current contract, given the tax impact annexation would have on voters. It’s too early to determine the exact impact annexing would have on property taxes, but estimates show around $80 per month for a home valued at $1 million. Dotsch also cited the lack of fiscal oversight Edmonds would have, saying one commissioner is not enough.

If residents vote against annexation in April, both the city and South County Fire must decide by July 1 whether to enter a temporary contract for 2026. It is unclear what would happen if one or both parties decide against entering the contract.

The council also voted Tuesday to approve its budget for 2025 and 2026 by a vote of 6-1. The budget assumes voters will approve the annexation in April and a $6 million levy lid lift in August or November. If voters reject both measures, the city would be in an $18 million deficit. This would require “significant retooling” of how Edmonds provides services, said city spokesperson Kelsey Foster.

Dotsch again cast the sole “no” vote. She said the budget is too dependent on these unknown variables.

“We could have been a little more fiscally honest that if one or both of these don’t pass, these fiscal impacts that we’re planning now won’t be realized,” she said.

As part of the budget, Edmonds will not fund 43.5 positions and will furlough more than 50 city staff members for 12 days. Fees for parking permits, red-light camera infractions, credit card transactions and building permits will increase. In addition, the council directed the mayor to find a total of $3.5 million in cuts over the next two years, plus $551,000 from the police command structure budget as police Chief Michelle Bennett is set to retire early next year. The city will produce its full budget book in January.

“To say this process has been difficult is an understatement,” Mayor Mike Rosen said in a statement regarding the budget. “Staff and Council have invested countless hours navigating this fiscal emergency. While more tough decisions lie ahead, I am confident that our shared love for Edmonds will guide us through this challenging time.”

The council also elected members Neil Tibbott and Susan Paine as council president and council president pro tem, respectively.

Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.