LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Fire District 4 is flush with cash, vote no on tax measure

FIRE DISTRICT 4 EMS LEVY MEASURE

To the Editor:

    During the April 15th Snohomish City Council meeting Agenda Item 7, Fire District 4’s architect reported that because of the poor and uncertain economy motivating contractors, the lowest bid for its Fourth and Pine project came in at $7 million below the budgeted estimate. (The audio is now posted online in the City’s Agenda Center.)

    The recent 2023 levy increase approved by the voters allowed the District to avoid a capital bond issue which would have required a super-majority 60% approval vote.

    In other words, the District saved up the $millions and are paying cash instead of indebtedness for its new Fourth and Pine project.  So this $7 million windfall makes the 2025 proposed levy unnecessary.

    Even if the August levy fails, the District’s total property tax revenue will still increase as shown below:

2019—$8.1 million

2020—$10.0 million

2021—$11.0 million

2022—$11.6 million

2023—$12.2 million

2024—$14.5 million

2025—$15.6 million

2026—$16.5 million (estimated)

2027-2029—similar 6% increases annually each year

    The District’s website states “Our fire district responds to ABOUT 4,300 CALLS A YEAR.”

    In conclusion, the District’s revenue doubled from 2019 to 2025 while call volumes stayed flat at 4,300 a year.

    For all of the above reasons, voters should reject the District’s Prop 1 Ballot measure on August 5th. 


Morgan Davis 

Snohomish