South King Fire and Rescue will ask voters in Federal Way and Des Moines on Aug. 7 to lift a property tax lid to allow the district to collect $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
State law allows fire districts to collect up to $1.50 per $1,000 assessed property valuation, but the increase can’t be more than 1 percent from the previous year without voter approval. The measure requires a simple majority for approval, or 50 percent plus one vote.
Currently, SKFR’s tax rate is set at $1.43 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. If approved, the increase would cost the owner of a $300,000 house – which is the median home price in Federal Way – about $21 more per year.
The five elected fire commissioners, which govern the district, made the decision to ask voters for the lid lift. The lift would last for six years and would be capped at a 6-percent increase from the previous year.