File #: 2015-0046    Version:
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 1/26/2015 In control: Budget and Fiscal Management Committee
On agenda: Final action: 6/22/2015
Enactment date: 6/25/2015 Enactment #: 18066
Title: AN ORDINANCE authorizing the King County executive to enter into an interlocal agreement, under chapter 39.34 RCW, with the King County fire districts to protect the districts from the effects of prorationing under RCW 52.16.160 resulting from approval of a levy measure to fund the construction of the Puget Sound emergency radio network.
Sponsors: Joe McDermott
Indexes: Fire Districts, Interlocal Agreement, levy
Attachments: 1. 18066.pdf, 2. A. Interlocal Agreement Concerning Fire District Prorationing Resulting from the PSERN Levy, Dated June 10, 2015, 3. 2015-0046 Legislative Review Form.pdf, 4. A. Interlocal Agreement Concerning Fire District Prorationing Resulting from the PSERN Levy, Dated June 10, 2015, 5. A. Interlocal Agreement Concerning Fire District Prorationing Resulting from the PSERN Levy, 6. 2015-0046 Fiscal Note.xlsx, 7. 2015-0046 transmittal letter.doc, 8. 2015-0046 Staff Report.docx, 9. 2015-0046_SR_Dated_051315.docx, 10. 2015-0046_SR_Dated_060315.docx, 11. 2015-0046_SR_Dated_061015.docx, 12. 2015-0046_ATT2_Striking_Amendment_S1_061015.docx, 13. 2015-0046_REVISED MKCC_SR_Fire ILA061015.docx
Staff: Kaye, Lise
Drafter
Clerk 06/10/2015
Title
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the King County executive to enter into an interlocal agreement, under chapter 39.34 RCW, with the King County fire districts to protect the districts from the effects of prorationing under RCW 52.16.160 resulting from approval of a levy measure to fund the construction of the Puget Sound emergency radio network.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1.  King County's current emergency public safety radio network was substantially completed in 1997.  The network is aging and is requiring increasing repairs.
2.  The vendor for the current network has stated that it will stop supplying all replacement parts and repairing all used parts by December 31, 2018.  King County must replace its emergency public safety radio network or risk performance degradation.
3.  The King County council established a capital improvement project for this purpose.
4.  King County executive staff has been working with our regional partners to plan the replacement of the current network with a new network that is known as the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network ("PSERN").
5.  The PSERN project would cost approximately $246 million, not including the cost of financing.  King County will need additional tax revenues if it is to go ahead with the PSERN project.
6.  The King County executive has informed the council that the executive is likely to recommend a levy lid lift under RCW 84.55.050 to pay for the PSERN project.  If the council puts such a measure on the ballot and the voters approve the measure, fire districts may lose revenue due to the limitations on property taxation by junior taxing districts imposed by RCW 52.16.160 and the Washington State Constitution.
7.  The King County council finds that any reduction in fire district staff or services resulting from the PSERN levy would be contrary to the public interest.
8.  According to RCW 39.67.020, "Any taxing district other than the state may transfer funds to another taxing district other than the state where the regular property tax levy rate of the second district may affect the regular property tax levy rate of the first district and where such transfer is part of an agreement whereby proration or reduction of property taxes is lessened or avoided."
9.  King County wants to protect fire districts from the results of prorationing solely due to the imposition of the PSERN levy.  The executive has negotiated an agreement with the fire districts for this purpose.
      BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
      SECTION 1.  The King County executive is hereby authorized to enter into an interlocal agreement, in substantially the same form as Attachment A to this ordinance, with the fire districts in King County preventing fire district prorationing resulting from
the Puget Sound emergency radio network levy, decreases in assessed values and certain annexations.