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5 Comments
Fairwood's Fire District 40 Responds
to City of Renton's 'Misstatements'
on Fairwood Incorporation Study
Fairwood's Fire District 40 recently issued a response letter addressed to the Chair of the State of Washington Boundary Review Board, offered "to clarify and correct any information" regarding the February 25, 2009 letter sent by City of Renton's Mayor Denis Law.
Key comments written by Fire District 40 Chairperson Ronnie Behnke include:
Level of Specificity regarding Fire & Emergency Services Costs. Behnke notes that Law says services and costs are "notably absent from the analysis," but Behnke references specific pages in the report where references are included, in addition to "special financial benefits to a City of Fairwood by annexing into fire
Download the Letter by clicking the image above.
districts." This is quantified in a statement that a "City of Fairwood could bank nearly $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value each year and utilize such capacity to stabilize a major source of funding for the City." The current rate is noted as slightly over $1 per $1,000, amounting to the abiliity to "bank" nearly half the money raised.
'Misstatements' about Contract & Service Options. Behnke makes two notes that "nothing is written in the contract for service between Fire District 40 and the City of Renton that in any way governs what decisions a City of Fairwood would or must make." Behnke also responds to what is an incomplete interpretation of fire service options for a City of Fairwood.
Costing Incorrect. Fire District 40 notes that Law's letter stating that reference to a $3 million estimate for both police and fire services was incorrect. Behnke notes the "$3 million figure being quoted is related entirely to public safety, excluding fire services."
Current FD 40 Staffing Higher than City of Renton. Behnke concludes the letter by noting that the current Fairwood Fire Station staffing level "is currently above the minimum staffing found in the City of Renton, and is provided solely due to a decision of the Fire District 40 Board of Commissioners and funded entirely through District 40 revenues."
A copy of the Fire District 40 Letter can be read by clicking the image above.
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Responses to
"Fairwood's Fire District 40 Refutes City of Renton Letter"
April 18 - 8:01 pm
Erin Aboudara said: OUR taxes are what built the fire station on the Benson primarily, that was what I was specifically referring to. The level of fire protection is not now, nor was it previously, less than what Renton has. Fire agencies and police agencies coordinate with each other during major incidents, so it is not like we would not have enough personnel from Fire District #40 to fight a house fire! You are trying to scare people, and I resent that. You insult the intelligence of our often college educated community members. We will all get a chance to speak up at the BRB Hearings next month, so I know that those of us who feel very passionate about this issue will be there.
"Choose Renton" folks have waited for 20 years for annexation, yet Renton just kept putting it off and putting it off... You may just wind up staying unincorporated for the forseeable future. And I have seen Sheriff's deputies on patrol in my neighborhood and on my street almost DAILY virtually the entire 6 1/2 years that I have lived in my house, so let's just put this nonsense about having less police protection than Renton aside as an URBAN LEGEND, because that is just what it is. This concludes my allowed 2 comments on this story. :)
April 14 - 7:34 am
Bryce Nelson said: Hi again Erin -- If FD 40 decided to again become a stand alone fire department, it would be bucking regional and national trends towards regionalization and consolidation in the fire service. It would be forced to reduce on-duty staffing in order to pay increased overhead costs that it would again assume by being independent -- i.e. a chief and administrative staff. We would get reduced staffing for the same amount of taxes, or we'd have to pay increased taxes to maintain our present level of service. We'd have a fire department that would be unable to handle a routine house fire without outside assistance. Going at it alone would not result in higher quality service in either the short or long term -- it'd result in a reduction of service for the area.
With respect to the FD 40 station on Benson Rd., that station is now within the boundaries of the City of Renton and is essentially useless to Fire District 40. It will become a part of Renton's assets once the asset transfer that is required to take place after the Benson Hill annexation is finally completed. We'll still pay for it, though, until 2025. Which means we will pay for bonds for a fire station that was used by FD 40 for a grand total of six months before the area was annexed by Renton. When you mention higher quality services under a separate FD 40 in the long and short term, is that the sort of foresight and leadership you're talking about?
April 11, 2009 - 3:04 pm
Jeff said: Take back Fire protection from the city of Renton? Then who would be Fairwood's Fire Department? Also, I don't see Renton paying a City of Fairwood to provide us fire protection. Vote NO to Incorporation. A City of Fairwood that has to rely on rain, that's about all it would be able to afford, for fire protection wouldn't be getting higher quality services.
April 10, 2009 - 7:34 pm
Dave said: Woud this be the Ronnie Behnke that chose to vote for a deal with the City of Renton to turn all Firefighters over to Renton and contract with Renton for 20 years. At this time King County Fire District 40 has no firefighters except the Renton employees that KCFD 40 contracted to pay for thier services.
April 10, 2009 - 2:04 pm
Erin Aboudara said: Vote to Incorporate as the City of Fairwood and take back ALL of Fire District 40 from the City of Renton. Let Renton PAY US for the use of the new fire station on the Benson. Our taxes are paying for it already. We will have higher quality fire and emergency medical services for our still growing community for both the long and short term. Don't vote to annex to Renton--you will get LESS for your money!