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Home My WebLink About5344 RESOLUTION NO. 5 3 4 4 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CJTY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR VOTER APPROVAL OF THE VALLEY REGIOIVAL FIRE AUTHORITY PROPOSITION NO. 1 TO CONTINUE A VOTER- AUTHORIZED BENEFIT CHARGE EACH YEAR FOR AN - ADDITIONAL SIX (6) YEARS WHEREAS, the cities of Algona, Auburn, and Pacific approved the creation of the Valley Regional Fire Authority (VRFA) and funding the organization with a regular property tax and benefit charge in 2006; and WHEREAS, the citizens re-authorized the use of the benefit charge at the primary election in 2012; and WHEREAS, state law requires the VRFA to seek approval of the voters every six years for continued use of the benefit charge; and WHEREAS, the citizens of all three cities have benefited greatly from the creation of the VRFA and the regionalization of fire, emergency medical and rescue services; and WHEREAS, VRFA has been funded since its ineeption through a combination of a regular property tax levy and a benefit charge; and WHEREAS, an election will be held in February 13, 2018, on VRFA Proposition 1 whether to continue funding the VRFA utilizing the benefit charge; and WHEREAS, RCW 42.17A.555 (formerly RCW 42.17.130) authorizes city councils to take collective action regarding ballot measures appearing before the voters so long as the action is taken at a public meeting, required notice of the meeting includes the title and number of the ballot proposition, and where the opportunity for opposing views is given to attendees at the public meeting; and Resolufion No. 5344 January 12, 2018 Page 1 WHEREAS, in light of the value and the benefits to the citizens of Auburn, as well as those of Algona and Pacific, for the services provided by VRFA, it is appropriate that the City Council support this ballot measure as permitted pursuant to RCW 42.17A.555, and the Council believes it is in the best interest of the VRFA and its citizens that such measure be approved at the election; and WHEREAS, the Council desires to unequivocally support the proposition and urge all voters in the City to become informed about the necessity of approving the proposition to continue the collection of the benefit charge; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The Council declares its unqualified support for VRFA Proposition No. 1, coming before the voters on February 13, 2018, approval of which Proposition would provide for continued funding of VRFA, utilizing the benefit charge as one of the main, revenue sources. All registered voters of the city are strongly encouraged to become educated about the necessity for the use of the benefit charge for the benefit of all citizens of the VRFA. Section 2. That this Resolution shall take effect and be in full force upon passage and signatures hereon. � DATED and SIGNED this �day of January 2018. CITY OF AUBURN NCY B US, Mayor --- -- ----------- F2esolufion No. 5344 January 12, 2018 Page 2 ATTEST: Danielle . Daskam, City Clerk Appro as to F anie B. Heid, ' Attorney ---- --- - - ------- Resolution No. 5344 January 12, 2018 Page 3 BALLOT NiEASURE TITLE Valley Regional Fire Authority Proposition No. 1 Continuation of Benefit Charge Shall Valley Regional Fire Authority, serving the communities of Algona, Auburn and Pacific, be authorized to continue voter-authorized benefit charges each year for six years, not to exceed an amount equal to sixty percent of its operating budget, and be prohibited from imposing an additional property tax under RCW 52.26.140(1)( c)? Yes , No Note: RC 52.26.140 reads as follows: 52.26.140 Levy of taxes—Levies authorized by special election—Indebtedness— Definition. (1) To carry out the purposes for which a regional fire protection service authority is created, as authorized in the plan and approved by the voters, the governing board of an authority may annually levy the following taxes: (a) An ad valorem tax on all taxable property located within the authority not to exceed fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed yalue; (b)An ad valorem tax on all property located within the authority not to exceed fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value and which will not cause the combined levies to exceed the constitutional or statutory limitations. This levy, or any portion of this levy, may also be made when dollar rates ofi other taxing units are released by agreement with the other taxing units from their autho�ized levies; and (c) An ad valorem tax on all taxable property located within the authority not to exceed fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value if the authority has at least one full-time, paid employee, or confracts with another municipal cocporation for the services of at least one full-time, paid employee.This levy may be made only if'it will not affect dollar rates which other taxing distr'icts may lawfully claim nor cause the combined levies to exceed the consfitutional or statutory Iimitations or both. (2) Levies in excess of the amounts provided,in subsection (1) of this section or in exeess of the aggregate dollar rate limitations or both may be made for any authority purpose when so authorized at a special election under RCW 84.52.052. Any such tax when levied must be certified to the proper county officials for the collection of the tax as for other general taxes. The taxes when collected shall be placed in the appropriate authority fund or funds as provided by law, and must be paid out on warrants of the auditor of the county in which all, or the largest portion of, the authority is located, upon authorization of the governing board of the authority. (3) Authorities may provide for the retirement of general indebtedness by excess property tax levies as set forth in RCW 52.26.130. (4) For purposes of this chapter; the term "value of the taxable property" has the same meaning as in RCW 39.36.015. [2006 c 200§ 11; 2004 c 129 § 15.] Resolution No. 5344 January 12, 2018 Page 4 RCW 42.17A.555 42;17A,555 Use of public office or agency facilities in campaigns—Prohibition— Exceptions. No elective official nor any employee of his or her office nor any person appointed to or employed by any public office or agency may use or authorize the use of any of the facilities of a public office or agency, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of assisting a campaign for election of any person to any office or for the promotion of or opposition to any ballot proposition. Facilities of a public office or agency include, but are not limited to, use of stationery, postage, machines, and equipment, use of employees of the office or agency during working hours, vehicles, office space, publications of the office or agency, and clientele lists of persons served by the office or agency. However, this does not apply to the following activities: (1) Action taken at an open public meeting by members of an elected legislative body or by an elected board, council, or commission of a special purpose district including, but not limited to, fire districts, public hospital districts, library districts, park districts, port districts, public utility districts, school districts, sewer districts, and water districts, to express a collective decision, or to actually vote upon a motion, proposal, resolution, order, or ordinance, or to support or oppose a ballot proposition so long as (a) any required notice of the meeting includes the title and number of the ballot proposition, and (b) members of the legislative body, members of the board, council, or commission of the special purpose district, or members of the public are afforded an approximately equal opportunity for the expression of an opposing view; (2) A statement by an elected official in support of or in opposition to any ballot proposition at an open press conference or in response to a specific inquiry; (3) Activities which are part of the normal and regular conduct of the office or agency. (4) This section does not apply to any person who is a state officer or state employee as defined in RCW 42,52.010. [ 2010 c 204 § 701; 2006 c 215 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 265 § 2; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 112 § 6; 1973 c 1 § 13 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972). Formerly RCW 42.17.130.] - --------------- Resolution No. 5344 January 12, 2018 Page 5