South County Fire is asking voters in Lynnwood and unincorporated Snohomish County to consider approving a benefit charge that would change the way property owners pay for emergency services.
The measure – sponsored by the Regional Fire Authority (RFA) — will appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot, which is being mailed out to voters this week.
If approved, the benefit charge would replace a portion of the fire levy now paid by the RFA’s residential and commercial customers with a charge based on the size and use of a structure, instead of its assessed value. Voters in the city limits of Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace and Brier would not be impacted by the charge as those cities receive emergency services through a contract with South County Fire.