The Facts about Proposition 1 – A Regional Fire Authority Measure

By Matt Cowan, Shoreline Fire Chief

The February 11, 2025, special election will provide an opportunity for voters from Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline to decide on Proposition 1 – a Regional Fire Authority (RFA) and its revenue sources. The proposed RFA would merge the Shoreline and Northshore Fire Departments into one Fire District.

The foundation for Proposition 1 was established in 2022 when the Shoreline and Northshore Fire Departments signed an Interlocal Agreement. Under this contract Shoreline Fire provides full fire and emergency medical services to Kenmore and Lake Forest Park.

Proposition 1 is a very important measure that will determine the future of fire and emergency medical services in Shoreline, Kenmore and Lake Forest Park. Unfortunately, the facts about Proposition 1 are being clouded by a disinformation campaign coming from opponents of the measure. This disinformation campaign, neatly summarized in the anonymous opinion submitted to the Lake Forest Park Town Crier “Time for Shoreline Fire to Get Their Expenses Under Control” (2/5/2025) is a slew of false information, unfounded allegations, and false conspiracy theories.

I will not respond to the slander promoted by the opponents of Proposition 1. Their disinformation campaign is only meant to distract voters from the real issue of how a Regional Fire Authority will affect them.

It is my duty, however, to provide voters with the facts about how Proposition 1 so that you can make an informed decision based on facts not fiction.

The three most common questions that I get from voters are:

1. Will the RFA save taxpayer dollars?
2. Will the RFA lead to service improvements?
3. Will the RFA ensure local control for Kenmore and Lake Forest Park?

• The RFA will save taxpayer dollars. Under the proposed RFA, 100% of all homeowners and 98% of all property owners will see a decrease in their equivalent fire levy rate.

For example in 2025, a property in the Northshore Fire Department with an AV of $812,000 might pay $568.40 on the fire levy tax at the rate of $.70 per $1,000 of AV, and $494.54 on the FBC, for a total of $1,062.94 annually for fire and emergency services. This same house, in an apples-to-apples comparison in the RFA for 2025, would pay the same on the fire levy tax (because the levy rate for the RFA in 2026 will be $.70), but $277.31 on the FBC (based on current estimates) for a total of $845.71 for the same services. In this example, it would be a reduction of $217.23, or a 20.4% decrease.

This is an analysis based on 2025 budget numbers. The RFA, if approved, would not begin collecting taxes until 2026 and we will not know what assessed values or costs we will be using for that budget until October 2025. However, what we know right now is that current budget estimates show that homeowners would experience a reduction in what they pay in 2026 if the RFA is approved.

• The RFA will improve service levels. Under the proposed RFA service levels will improve in Shoreline, Kenmore and Lake Forest Park.
  • The RFA will lead to improved collaboration among our Firefighters in training and working together, ensuring improved service levels.

• There will be more efficient use of apparatus allowing fire trucks, aid cars and personnel to move to where they are needed.

• Our technical rescue capabilities will improve in Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, and surrounding region.

• And better resource pooling will strengthen grant applications, such as a future fire rescue boat on Lake Washington.

The RFA will improve citizen involvement and representation. The proposed RFA will improve citizen involvement and representation on the RFA Governance board.

• The proposed RFA ensures that there would be equal representation of elected Commissioners from Northshore Fire and Shoreline Fire with five members each serving on the Board.

Proposition 1 is supported by:

• The Shoreline Professional Firefighters Local 1760.
• City Councils of Shoreline, Kenmore, and Lake Forest Park.
• State Senators Jesse Salomon and Derek Stanford.
• State Representatives Lauren Davis, Cindy Ryu, Shelly Kloba, and Davina Duerr.
• King County Councilmembers Rod Dembowski and Sarah Perry.
• Former Lake Forest Park Deputy Mayor Phillippa Kassover.
• Former Kenmore City Councilmember Corina Pfeil.
• Kenmore Planning Commission Chair Tracy Banaszynski.
• Kenmore Planning Commissioner David Dorrian.
• People for an Environmentally Responsible Kenmore (PERK) Board Member Peter Lance.
• The Evergreen Health Board of Directors.
• The 1st and 32nd Legislative District Democrats.

For more information about Proposition 1, visit our RFA webpage at: www.shorelinefire.com/rfa.

Please vote on February 11th.

Together we can shape the future of fire and emergency services in our communities.

Matt Cowan. Shoreline Fire Chief