• Two-thirds of South County Fire's 15 fire stations need replacement or major upgrades to meet operational needs and better protect firefighters from exposure to carcinogens like diesel exhaust.

• Nearly half of South County Fire's 15 fire stations could be inoperable after a major earthquake, according to an independent engineering assessment.

• Emergency call volumes have increased 30% over the last 10 years as Snohomish County has experienced rapid population growth.

• Improvements were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Further delays are projected to increase costs.

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 an estimated rate of $0.194 per $1,000 of assessed value, based on June 2026 market conditions.

Use this online calculator to estimate costs to your property.

Seniors, low-income households and people with disabilities would maintain any current exemptions they have through the county. (Washington Law: WAC 458-16A-140:)

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.

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.

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.

The benefit charge is not a property tax – it is a fee, based on building size, use and hazards. 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.

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.

If voters approve the bond, work is anticipated to begin in the first half of 2027 when funding becomes available.

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.

Fire stations are where firefighters train, eat, sleep and live while preparing for emergency calls. Firefighters return to stations to decontaminate after fires, medical responses, hazmat incidents and rescues.

Fire stations impact long-term health of firefighters, injury risk and operational readiness. Stations need to be properly located, appropriately sized and well-equipped to provide reliable response times and high-quality emergency care.

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.

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.

South County Fire is the largest provider of fire and emergency medical services (EMS) in Snohomish County, serving nearly 300,000 residents across Brier, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace and unincorporated southwest Snohomish County.

As a regional fire authority (RFA), we operate 15 neighborhood fire stations staffed 24/7 by more than 350 uniformed firefighters. On average, our crews respond to more than 100 calls for service each day, providing high-quality fire suppression, fire prevention, EMS, hazardous materials response, marine response and technical rescue.