South King Fire & Rescue's mid-year forecast shows property tax revenues are projected to decline 5 percent ($1.2 million) for 2011. This decline is in addition to the nearly 15 percent ($3.7 million) reduction we experienced for 2010. The combined revenue losses for the 2-year period total $4.8 million.

The fire district receives more than 95 percent of its funding from property taxes to provide fire suppression and emergency medical services to residents and business owners in the communities of Federal Way, Des Moines, and unincorporated King County. As property values have dipped sharply in King County during the economic downturn, so have revenues received by the fire district.

"Our revenue continues to fall, and the cost to provide emergency services is growing," said Chief Financial Officer David Lawson.

Historically, increases are due to personnel costs and items such as fuel, equipment and supplies.

To reduce expenses, cost cutting measures have been put in place. More than $400,000 have been saved with a hiring freeze, reduced staffing through attrition, cuts in training, and a delay in the replacement of emergency equipment. Using cash reserve funds to make ends meet helps, but Lawson cautions that is a temporary solution.

"We have managed taxpayer money wisely in order to have cash reserves," said Lawson. "But, if we do not stabilize our revenue, our cash reserves will be spent, leaving the fire department without a safety net."

The Board of Fire Commissioners recently passed a resolution to place Proposition 1 on the August 17th Primary Election ballot. The funding measure would provide a stable revenue stream for the fire district to maintain emergency service levels in 2011. Many residents will pay about the same as they did via property taxes to the Fire Department in 2010, but likely less than they paid in 2009. Voters in Kent passed this funding measure in April of this year by 73 percent.

Lawson says the fire district is looking ahead to what our next steps should if Proposition 1 fails. "We will have to fill a $4.8 million hole which can only be done by laying off emergency personnel. That solution has undesirable consequences."

Reduced staffing levels would increase emergency response times, which currently average 4-6 minutes. Longer response times could jeopardize the fire district's current Class 2 rating (highest in the state). The loss of the Class 2 rating will likely result in higher insurance rates for local business owners and homeowners.

Lawson says the fire department is spending a significant amount of time educating the public about their financial situation. "No one is at fault. The economy has hurt all of us. Ultimately, we will do what the taxpayers want because we work for them."

South King Fire and Rescue expects to receive more than 16,000 emergency calls in 2010.Taxpayer support means that firefighter/paramedics can respond to emergencies in an average of four to six minutes or less. For more information about your fire department - including the 2010 budget, visit our web site at www.southkingfire.org.