Kirkland’s Proposition One for firefighters is currently being approved in early election results.
As of Election Day results, 72.54% of voters approve the measure with 30,291 votes, and 27.46% reject it, with 11,468 votes.
If approved, the improvements would come from 20 additional firefighters, purchasing additional PPE, modernizing the existing fire stations and locating a new Fire Station 27 near EvergreenHealth and Interstate 405. Most fire stations in Kirkland at on average 35 years old and four are not up to modern health, safety or seismic standards.
This is the first city-wide property tax levy proposal for the first time in almost 30 years, funding fire and emergency medical services (EMS). The levy costs $23.51 for every $100,000 of assessed home value, and for the median Kirkland home value of $730,000 would come to $171 a year.
No statement was written in opposition of the proposition on the ballot pamphlet.
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