South County Fire
Home MenuBond Questions and Answers
What is on my ballot?
South County Fire is asking voters to consider Proposition 1 – a bond to fund the replacement of six aging fire stations, improvements and seismic upgrades to four additional fire stations, construction of four new fire stations to meet emergency demand, and upgrades to other essential facilities that directly support operational response and readiness.
Improvements would support emergency services delivery across the regional fire authority for the next 30 years and beyond.
Why is this construction necessary?
An independent Capital Facilities assessment, started in 2016, found that:
- Two-thirds of South County Fire’s 15 stations need replacement or major upgrades.
- Nearly half of fire stations could be inoperable after a major earthquake.
- Several stations lack modern safety features that limit firefighters' exposure to carcinogens and fail to meet current operational needs.
Why are additional fire stations needed?
Rapid population growth in southwest Snohomish County has increased demand for services and increased traffic, impacting response times. Emergency calls have increased by roughly 30% over the past decade. Continuing growth is projected to place more stress on emergency response services.
The bond would be used to fund construction of four stations, currently planned in these locations identified in the Capital Facilities Plan as service “gaps:”
- The area of 216th and Highway 99 in Edmonds - one of South County Fire’s busiest square miles for service
- Near 170th Street SW at Alderwood Mall Parkway in Lynnwood
- Near the 2200 block of Manor Way in Lynnwood
- The area of Cascadian Way near Mill Creek
Purchase of property, apparatus and equipment for these additional stations would be included in bond funding.
How much would Proposition 1 cost property owners?
If approved, the bond is estimated to cost about $11.32 per month, or $135.80 per year, for a home valued at $700,000 — considered average for South County Fire's service area. That's a rate of approximately $0.194 per $1,000 of assessed property value, based on June 2026 market conditions.
The same rate would apply to property owners across the regional fire authority. Click here to calculate the estimated cost based on your property value.
What about exemptions?
Seniors, low-income households and people with disabilities would maintain any current exemptions they have through the county. (Washington Law: WAC 458-16A-140:)
How will improvements impact my fire service?
Projects included in the bond measure would impact fire and EMS service in every community served by South County Fire, by ensuring stations meet community needs, keep firefighters safer and can operate in a major disaster.
Additional fire stations would support faster response and maintain response times as population and traffic congestion continue growing.
Why are these station improvements needed now?
The need for fire station improvements was first identified in a 2016 Capital Facilities Report. Progress was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Further delays are projected to increase costs.
South County Fire has been planning for station improvements since at least 2016, when the first phase of a Capital Facilities Plan was completed by independent consultants. Improvements were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent annexations.
Over that same time period, emergency calls have increased while station facilities have continued to age. Delaying major capital improvements further can increase risk, extend reliance on aging equipment, and increase costs due to construction and apparatus price escalation. Current projections predict a 5% cost escalation per year.
If the bond is approved, what is the timeline for completion of improvements?
Projects are expected to span approximately 10 years, with the final project currently scheduled for completion in late 2037. Find detailed information about specific project timelines in the Capital Facilities Plan.
What would be the terms of the bonds?
The bonds are expected to be sold in three issuances over a seven-year period. Each issuance will mature approximately 20 years after issuance; the total repayment period is approximately 27 years.
Repayment will be structured to keep the tax levy rate relatively the same throughout the life of the bonds.
How could station improvements affect emergency response times?
The bond includes funding for four additional fire stations located in areas identified as current coverage gaps. Additional stations would support faster response and would help maintain response times as population and traffic congestion continue growing.
Station layout can also influence how quickly firefighters can respond after a dispatch. If sleeping quarters or living spaces are far from apparatus bays, firefighters may need additional time to reach the engines. Station designs that place living spaces closer to apparatus bays help reduce that delay and support faster response.
How were station construction costs determined?
Independent estimates for facility construction were provided by RC Cost Group and based on similar facilities of like quality throughout the Puget Sound region. Estimates include construction hard costs, soft costs (permits, furnishings, technology, etc.) and projected cost escalation of 5% per year.
Total cost of the bond measure also includes funding for necessary land acquisition, potential energy efficiency compliance requirements, apparatus and equipment for additional fire stations, as well as engineering and project management fees.
Projected costs for all projects included in the bond can be viewed by clicking on the Capital Facilities Plan. Station costs vary based on size and timeline. If the bond is approved, South County Fire is committed to reducing costs wherever possible.
Can bond funds be used for staffing, wages or benefits?
Bond funds are legally restricted to capital projects such as fire stations and fire engines. They cannot be used for wages, benefits, or day-to-day operating expenses.
How are fire and emergency medical services funded?
South County Fire’s daily operations are primarily funded with a fire levy, an EMS levy and a benefit charge. Fire and EMS levies are based on a property’s assessed value. All properties across the regional fire authority pay the same rates.
The benefit charge is not a property tax – it is a fee, based on building size, use and hazards. There is no charge for undeveloped land. Single family homes pay a lower benefit charge than commercial buildings because it takes fewer resources to defend a smaller structure in a fire.
South County Fire is among the lowest cost emergency service providers in all of Snohomish County.
How are bonds different from operational funding?
Operational funding is revenue used to cover daily, short-term expenses, like salaries, equipment and maintenance. Bonds can be used to fund high-cost capital items, such as fire stations.
Why not fund station improvements out of the operations budget?
South County Fire’s operations budget funds daily operations needs such as staffing, fuel, medical supplies, equipment, utilities, training, and routine maintenance.
Funding all projects in the Capital Facilities Plan would require South County Fire to reallocate more than three years of the agency’s entire annual budget. Using increased taxing capacity to fund projects would leave residents without a vote in the matter.
Saving enough money to fund all needed improvements would likely take decades. South County Fire has been accumulating the funding needed to rebuild Fire Station 22 for nearly 10 years.
What is required for the bond ballot measure to pass?
A 60% “yes” vote is required for the bond measure to pass. At least 40% of voters from the last general election must also participate in the election.