SeaTac voters appear to have narrowly rejected last week a property tax increase to fund the replacement of two fire stations and hire more firefighters.

On Sept. 25, King County Elections reported 1458 yes votes (49.49 percent) and 1488 no votes (50.51 percent) on Proposition 1, which would have lifted SeaTac's property tax levy lid for six years.

Late election night returns on Sept. 19 had the proposal ahead by 15 votes.

Election results must be certified by Friday, Sept. 29.

Meanwhile, proposals to maintain property tax levies in three Highline fire districts passed easily.

Former SeaTac Mayor Frank Hansen, who vigorously opposed the SeaTac measure, said the tax hike would have been defeated more soundly if the city had not spent so much money on mailings and a video that was shown on SeaTac's government access cable channel.

Hansen also said if he had sent out his own anti-tax flyer, the vote would not have been as close.

Interviewed Thursday, Hansen conceded the vote "could still go either way," but added, "people are tired of paying taxes.

"People in SeaTac don't have a lot of money," Hansen declared. "When the city has $18.5 million in reserves, why ask for more taxes?"

In a move that could rankle former city hall colleagues, Hansen filed on Sept. 6 a formal complaint with the state Public Disclosure Commission against city council members, City Manager Craig Ward, Fire Chief Bob Meyer and planning commission chairwoman Linda Snider.

He charged that city officials publicly and strongly supported the proposition even though state law forbids using public office or agency facilities in campaigns to promote or oppose any ballot measure.

The former mayor cited a city paid brochure mailed to residents that Hansen characterized as "designed to be a 'scare' piece showing bright orange flames captioned by 'What if help could arrive sooner?'"

The city also spent at least $8,000 on a video favoring the ballot measure, according to Hansen.

City Manager Ward countered that the materials only explained the proposition to residents.

"We thought that we followed the law," Ward said. "We will explain that to the commission. We think we will prevail."

Ward said council members placed the tax measure on the ballot "to find out what the public wants-what they are willing to raise their taxes for.

We will know the will of the people."

He had not talked to lawmakers about alternate plans for fire service improvements if the negative vote holds up.

Richard Knight, president of the firefighters union, said the fact that SeaTac does not put many propositions on the ballot and low voter turnout may have contributed to the apparent defeat.

"I don't believe the cost was too much for the service residents would get," Knight added.

Meyer said he expected the vote would be close.

"I thought the vote would be more positive," Meyer commented. "Maybe cost was a factor, but I don't really know."

Proposition 1 authorized the raising of the property tax rate from $2.77 to $3.10 per $1,000 of assessed home value. The lid lift would have generated $15 million.

The tax hike would have paid for replacement fire stations at 2929 S. 200th St. and 3215 S. 152nd St.

Lawmakers have already authorized expansion of the McMicken Heights station at 3521 S. 170th St. using city reserve funds.

An aid car would have been continually manned and daily firefighter staffing would have increased from 10 to 15 on each shift.

While SeaTac's levy lid lift faltered, proposals to maintain current property tax levies in three Highline fire districts sailed through.

As of Wednesday, Sept. 20, King County Elections reported that 62.35 percent of voters in King County Fire District 2-the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department-approved their levy.

In North Highline, 68.84 percent voted to continue the levy for Fire District 11, while South King Fire and Rescue (Des Moines-Federal Way) got 65.86 percent approval for its levy.

Updated SeaTac results are available at www.highlinetimes.com or www.metrokc.gov/elections/200609.