Both Olympia and Tumwater city councils to hold public hearings about the proposed RFA tomorrow

Olympia and Tumwater city councils will hold separate public hearings tomorrow, Tuesday, December 6, at 7 p.m. to decide whether to ask voters to approve a plan to create a new Regional Fire Authority.

If approved by 60 percent of the vote, the RFA would merge Olympia and Tumwater's fire departments, moving them into a new government entity, with its own governance and financing, including the imposition of a Fire Benefit Charge (FBC).

Both meetings are open either in person or via Zoom.  Here are Zoom links:

Olympia  - Register here to attend. 

Tumwater - Attend in person or register here by 6:45 p.m. to comment via Zoom.

Both city councils will be presented with a joint resolution to consider for adoption. The resolution provides the cities' voters a proposition to approve or reject the creation of an RFA at a special election that would be set for April 25, 2023.

The RFA planning committee recommended the creation of the RFA, which aims to provide fire protection and emergency medical services. The RFA would be funded by property tax, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) levy revenues, and the FBC, an annual fee to be collected from property owners based on the fire risk associated with the size and type of structures.

"The delivery of core emergency services and timely development of significant projects can best be achieved through the use of stable funding options provided for by state law for regional protection and emergency medical services," stated in the resolution to be presented at both city councils.

On November 14, the RFA planning committee held a public hearing where only four community members shared their opinions.

Jim Lazar, a former city advisory committee member, wants a uniform FBC charge per square foot for all residential buildings and a different uniform charge per square foot for commercial buildings. (See related OPINION article.) 

He said having a uniform FBC would solve the problem of regressivity.

Resident Tim Erickson agreed that he wants to include mobile homes in the FBC factor.