South King Fire and Rescue will place on the Aug. 21 primary election ballot a proposition asking voters to maintain the current levy for fire services at up to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

If approved, the levy would be in effect for six years.

The ballot issue is in accord with Initiative 747, which limits the property taxes local units of government can collect to no more than 1 percent above the amount collected the previous year without a public vote.

South King fire commissioners recently determined that a 1 percent annual revenue limitation would necessitate cutbacks in the present level of services the agency provides Federal Way.

This could include laying off staff, eliminating specialized services or not moving forward with the replacement of emergency equipment.

A recent change in state law now allows fire districts to run property tax levy lid lift measures once every six years.

The measure, if approved, would ensure that funding and inflationary costs are covered for 2008 through 2013, while saving over $600,000 in election costs.