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Summarized post:
The Proposition 1 measure on the February 11th ballot provides no cost savings, no additional services. The efficiencies and cost savings of a consolidated department we achieved in 2022 with the Northshore / Shoreline contract for fire services (ILA). This contract provides operational saving of $1,400,000 and new nontax revenues of $1,000,000 per year.
The propose RFA increases the levy authorization from $0.70 cents Per $1,000 of AV to $1.00 in 2026. A 43% increase. Communities lose local control of their service level, tax rate and ownership of their fire stations, fire engines aid cars and millions of dollars in reserve funds. We lose the accountability included in the contract for fire services. The one size fits all solution proposed by the RFA Plan is not right for our communities. More information is available at https://www.no-rfa.info/
David Maehren served 20 years as a Northshore Fire Commissioner. His long-term service to our community includes 30 years with the King County Sheriff’s office, Chair of the citizens committee that formed the city of Kenmore. Rotary member and past President of The Arts of Kenmore.
Full post:
My name is David Maehren. I am one of three con-statement committee members assigned to the King County voters pamphlet regarding the February election Proposition 1 measure. This measure is asking voters to approve a Shoreline Fire Department Regional Fire Authority (RFA).
I volunteered for this position because I believe in good governance that serves the public interest. I can find no reason to vote in favor of the Proposition 1. I do not say this lightly because I am a strong supporter of the fire service. My father was a firefighter for Seattle, my brother a Tacoma firefighter. I served as a Northshore Fire Commissioner for 20 years and I served for 30 years with the King County Sheriff’s office. As a KCSO Captain, was to the liaison for the King County Zone 1 fire departments (all fire departments north of I-90).
The RFA is simply a governance change we do not need. Today the Northshore and Shoreline Fire Departments are consolidated in to a single department. This consolidation is the result of a contract for fire services (ILA) between Shoreline Fire and Northshore Fire departments. The benefits of this full consolidation are significant. Operational savings of $1,400,000 per year and increased ongoing, non-tax revenues from a patient transport fees of $1,075,000 in 2024. The contract also provides for cost and services accountability and transparency of budget expenditures.
There is no reason to form an RFA. The RFA adds nothing to our area fire department. There are no services added. No new fire stations, fire engines, aid cars or firefighters. In fact the RFA takes away important features our community enjoys today including local control and accountability provided for in the contract for fire services while providing a one size fits all service and tax rate. When employees know their job depends on satisfying the customer they are incentivized to meet that need. These contract obligations are lost with an RFA.
There is nothing the RFA can do that the Shoreline and Northshore boards of commissioners cannot already do. Today there is equity. Each community is assured it receives the services it desires, pays for the services it receives, and collects the revenue generated from its taxpayers. The districts retains ownership of its fire stations, fire engines, aid cars, equipment and millions of dollars in reserve funds. The service level and tax rate are determined at the local level.
The RFA would provide a one size fits all solution. Our communities are different and deserve services tailored to their needs. As an example, the Northshore fire commissioners added a peak hours aid car at Lake Forest Park because that is what the local community wanted. They are converting the unused Arrowhead fire station to a community park. With the RFA and the Fire Chiefs stated goal of moving resources to where they are most needed, Lake Forest Park will likely lose the peak hours aid car. After all the high volume aid calls are in Shoreline.
The RFA plan promises a tax decrease that is a ruse. The tax reduction is funded by a spend down of reserve funds not cost savings. Risky. Something that could be done today if our fire commissioners thought it was a good idea. The RFA plan increases the levy authorization from $0.70 per $1,000 of Assessed Valuation to $1.00 in 2026. A 43% increase after our community just approved the levy increase to $0.70 in August of 2024. The fire department ‘Educational Materials’ identify savings that are not real and service ‘improvements’ that are simply aspirational. No new fire stations, fire engines, aid cars or firefighters are added. Fact, there are no real cost savings or service improvement with the RFA. Details are available at the con-committee’s website https://www.no-rfa.info/
Today, we have the best of both worlds: A consolidated fire service that saves us money and performs at a high level; while still providing each community with the ability to tailor services to their needs, set their own reserve fund goals and tax rates, and retain ownership of their facilities, apparatus, and reserve funds. The system is working very well. There is no reason to change. Especially when the RFA experiment is a one way path. There is no realistic way back from the RFA.
Please join me in voting no on Proposition 1.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or view https://www.no-rfa.info/ for more information.
David Maehren
206 604-3683
