EVERETT — Voting is underway in a contentious Edmonds special election to decide whether the city will annex into South County Fire.
As of Friday afternoon, 22% of Edmonds voters had mailed in their ballots. Ballots must be postmarked by April 22 to be counted.
In December 2024, the Edmonds City Council voted to put annexation on the ballot. One year earlier, 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. Brier, Lynnwood, Mill Creek and Mountlake Terrace have already annexed South County Fire. At an April 2024 City Council meeting, South County Fire Commission Chair Jim Kenny said South County Fire essentially subsidizes Edmonds’ payments, which are lower than those of other cities.
Currently, residents pay a total of $6.5 million to the city for fire services. If annexed, taxpayers would pay the fire authority directly, but the City Council has stated it intends to keep charging residents the $6.5 million and place that money in its general fund, a piece in bridging its $13 million deficit and addressing its budget crisis.
A city-hired consulting firm, Fitch & Associates, conducted a study of the city’s fire options in April 2024. The report found annexation was the city’s least expensive option moving forward compared to contracting with another city or starting its own fire department.
If residents vote against annexation, 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.
Contracting for services in 2026 would cost the city about the same as annexation, but without the funding source, the city said in its explanatory statement in the local voters’ pamphlet.
Statements from the pro and con committees are available on the city’s website and in the local voters’ pamphlet included as an insert in the ballot.
Proponents of Proposition 1 say annexation is the only way to ensure adequate fire and emergency services after 2025. Some residents are concerned that if annexation fails, the city may have to look into cuts to police, parks and other services. Annexation would also give residents more local control, supporters say, as Edmonds would gain one nonvoting member on the South County Fire Board of Commissioners.
“Edmonds cannot afford its own fire department and has no other viable options,” the pro statement reads. “Any option other than RFA annexation will cost more and negatively impact fire, disaster, and emergency response times.”
Opponents say annexation would impose an unnecessary tax burden on residents without improving fire and emergency medical services. They advocate for entering the one-year contract to provide time to explore other options.
“Instead of rushing into a costly and permanent decision, we should explore less costly alternative ways to enhance public safety without sacrificing local governance or imposing excessive taxes,” the con statement reads. “We have other options.”
Residents can see how much their property taxes would increase using a calculator posted on the city website. My Edmonds News also created a calculator that includes more detail for taxpayers, including changes to city taxes.
Some opponents have raised concerns about what they see as a lack of transparency from the city regarding the ballot measure.
On Friday, the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission dismissed a complaint with a warning to Edmonds city officials over the alleged use of public funds to advocate for Proposition 1.
Edmonds resident Theresa Campa Hutchison filed the complaint against the city after learning it hired a public affairs firm to help with communications for the upcoming vote.
In August 2024, the city signed a $64,000 contract with Liz Loomis Public Affairs to “provide strategic communication consulting services related to the potential South County Fire annexation.”
The commission found that emails and texts between city officials violated state law, but the minor violation didn’t warrant further action.
In another complaint to the commission, firefighter Andrew Johnson, alleged Edmonds Can Do Better, a political action committee advocating for a “No” vote on Proposition 1, was violating campaign finance reporting requirements. The committee filed with the Public Disclosure Commission in January.
When someone registers a political action committee, it can either choose “full reporting” or “mini reporting.” If the committee chooses mini reporting, it is committing to raise and spend no more than $7,000 in addition to filing fees. Mini reporting committees may also not receive more than $500 from any one contributor. Mini reporting committees are not required to file campaign finance reports unless exceed the $7,000 limit for expenditures and/or contributions.
As of April 11, Edmonds Can Do Better spent $3,422.55 and received $4,564.14 in contributions, according to financial reports Hutchison shared with The Daily Herald.
This is one of two complaints filed against Edmonds Can Do Better. The Public Disclosure Commission dismissed the other complaint as it did not acknowledge the committee filed as mini reporting.
“This is literally David and Goliath, in my opinion,” Hutchison said. “They have bullied, us they have harassed us, they have intimidated us, they have thrown everything at us that they possibly can.”
In an interview with the Herald, Johnson said he didn’t realize Edmonds Can Do Better filed as mini reporting and he would likely withdraw his complaint.
Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
