EVERETT — Edmonds voters approved a controversial ballot measure to annex into South County Fire in Tuesday’s special election.
The measure, Proposition 1, passed with 63% of the vote. The measure required a simple majority — more than 50% — to pass. Voter turnout was 33%. The county will certify the election May 2.
For the city of Edmonds, the approval is a step in addressing its fiscal crisis.
“Your vote in the recent election was more than just a box checked,” Mayor Mike Rosen wrote in a statement Tuesday evening. “It was a clear statement of trust, and of your belief in the future of Edmonds. Because of your support, our city will officially join South County Fire—a major step forward that ensures our community will continue to receive high-quality, life-saving emergency services from a partner we already know and trust.”
In April 2023, the cities of Brier and Mountlake Terrace approved annexing into South County Fire with 78% and 92% of the vote, respectively.
The Edmonds special election was one of two in the county on Tuesday. In Brier, residents voted on a public safety levy lid lift. The measure failed with only 40% of votes in favor.
The Edmonds City Council voted to put annexation on the ballot in December 2024. One year earlier, South County Fire informed city officials it would end its contract with Edmonds at the end of 2025 due to the increased financial demand of serving the city.
Edmonds is the only city that still has a separate contract with the regional fire authority. At an April 2024 City Council meeting, South County Fire Commission Chair Jim Kenny said the fire authority essentially subsidizes Edmonds’ payments, which are lower than those of other cities.
Currently, residents pay a total of $6.5 million to the city for fire services. Annexation means taxpayers pay the fire authority directly, but the City Council has stated it intends to keep charging residents the $6.5 million and place that money in its general fund, a piece in bridging its $13 million deficit and addressing its budget crisis.
A city-hired consulting firm, Fitch & Associates, conducted a study of the city’s fire options in April 2024. The report found annexation was the city’s least expensive option moving forward compared to contracting with another city or starting its own fire department.
Proponents of Proposition 1 said annexation is the only way to ensure adequate fire and emergency services after 2025. Some residents were concerned that if annexation failed, the city may have to look into cuts to police, parks and other services. Annexation also gives residents more local control, supporters said, as Edmonds will gain one nonvoting member on the South County Fire Board of Commissioners.
Opponents said annexation would impose an unnecessary tax burden on residents without improving fire and emergency medical services. They advocated for entering a one-year contract to provide time to explore other options.
Some opponents raised concerns about what they saw as a lack of transparency from the city regarding the ballot measure.
On Friday, the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission dismissed a complaint with a warning to Edmonds city officials over the alleged use of public funds to advocate for Proposition 1.
Edmonds resident Theresa Campa Hutchison filed the complaint against the city after learning it hired a public affairs firm to help with communications for the vote.
In August 2024, the city signed a $64,000 contract with Liz Loomis Public Affairs to “provide strategic communication consulting services related to the potential South County Fire annexation.”
The commission found that emails and texts between city officials violated state law, but the minor violation didn’t warrant further action.
Hutchison and Jim Ogonowski, spokesperson for Edmonds Can Do Better, a political action committee that advocated against Proposition 1, said Wednesday the group remains committed to holding elected officials accountable and working toward a brighter future for Edmonds.
“To those who supported the measure, we extend our congratulations,” Hutchison and Ogonowski wrote in a statement. “We hope that the promises made during this campaign will be fulfilled and that the annexation will truly benefit Edmonds in the ways envisioned. We will continue to advocate for accountability and ensure that the transition serves the best interests of our community.”
What happens now
Starting June 1, Edmonds will annex into South County Fire. Edmonds residents will see their property taxes increase in 2026 to reflect the $6.5 million the city is retaining. Residents can see how annexation will impact their taxes through a calculator on the city’s website. My Edmonds News also created a calculator that includes more detail for taxpayers, including changes to city taxes.
In his statement Tuesday, Rosen said the city still has difficult conversations ahead. The city’s most recent budget identified a need for at least $6 million in ongoing revenue to maintain the city’s current level of operations. The city may ask voters to consider a levy lid lift in an upcoming election, he added, but he hopes to talk with the community before making a decision to place another measure on the ballot.
“You deserve transparency,” Rosen said. “You deserve to understand the financial challenges, and to help shape the solutions. That’s how we approached the fire annexation—together, with honesty and openness. And it’s how we’ll approach this next chapter too.”
Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
