Declining Property Tax Revenue Leads to Fire District 1 Administrative Layoffs

Declining home values have taken a toll on Snohomish County Fire District 1, which serves Edmonds.

The district, based in Everett, announced on Thursday that it has eliminated nine administrative positions through a combination of retirements and layoffs that take effect this month. The district made the move because of a 12.3 percent reduction of property tax revenue for 2012. It is expecting a $3 million budget shortfall in 2012, said Fire Chief Ed Widdis.

Fire District 1 relies on property tax as its principal source of revenue. “We’ve seen an unprecedented decline in property values in the past two years with more of the same expected in 2012,” Widdis said in a news release. “The 12 percent drop in 2012 comes on top of a 17 percent decrease in the previous two years.”

Fire District 1 will offset expected revenue losses by a combination of administrative cuts and an across-the-board reduction of nearly 12 percent in general fund program expenditures in 2012.

“These changes aren’t easy, but were necessary to address the budget challenges facing the fire district during these tough economic times,” Widdis said. “Our top priority is to maintain the fire and emergency medical response the public has come to expect, so we are looking for places to cut that do not affect station operations.” 

Widdis said these administrative staffing changes will not impact emergency services or fire station staffing.

Five administrative positions were eliminated in layoffs that took effect Wednesday: one deputy chief, one administrative assistant, one fire and life safety education specialist, one receptionist and one maintenance support employee. Four other positions will be eliminated Nov. 16 when retirements take effect for two deputy chiefs and two administrative assistants.

“We’re sad to be losing these employees who have served our citizens well,” Widdis said. “Over the next few months, we will be reorganizing our administrative staff to fill the responsibilities of those who have retired or were laid off.”

Widdis said the district’s five elected commissioners are in the final stages of adopting a $35.8 million budget for 2012, down from $37.3 million in 2011.

Fire District 1 is the largest provider of fire and emergency medical service in Snohomish County. In addition to Edmonds, it operates 12 stations to serving more than 227,000 residents in Brier, Mountlake Terrace and Woodway, as well as in unincorporated communities.

Effective January 1, 2010, the City of Edmonds entered into a 20-year agreement with Snohomish County Fire District No. 1 to provide fire, emergency medical and fire prevention services.

The district staffs the city's three fire stations, located on Sixth Avenue North, 196th Street Southwest and 88th Avenue Southwest.

The layoffs come as south Snohomish County city officials and Snohomish County Fire districts 1 and 7 are mulling over the idea of a regional fire authority that could improve efficiency. A regional fire authority would provide services for all of the participating cities, including Edmonds. If the cities agree upon the creation of a fire authority, it would eventually head to a public vote.