South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue Regional Fire Authority Proposition No. 1 — Fire and Emergency Medical Services Construction General Obligation Bonds - $420,000,000

What it does

South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue Regional Fire Authority Proposition No. 1 Fire and Emergency Medical Services Construction General Obligation Bonds - $420,000,000 The Board of Fire Commissioners of the South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue Regional Fire Authority adopted Resolution No. 06092026-13 concerning financing for its capital facilities plan. This proposition would authorize South County Fire to replace, renovate and/or make seismic upgrades to aging fire stations, build additional fire stations, and construct, improve, acquire and/or equip facilities to meet the community's emergency response needs, enhance reliability, reduce coverage gaps, and support operations; issue up to $420,000,000 of general obligation bonds maturing within a maximum of 25 years; and levy annual excess property taxes to repay the bonds, as provided in Resolution No. 06092026-13. Should Proposition No. 1 be:

A YES vote means

South County Fire could issue up to $420,000,000 in bonds, maturing within 25 years and repaid with property taxes, to replace, renovate or seismically upgrade fire stations, build more stations and equip facilities.

A NO vote means

South County Fire would not issue these bonds, and the related property tax would not be levied.

Needed to pass

A 60% supermajority: at least 60 out of every 100 YES and NO votes must be YES, so a measure can get a majority and still fail.

Left–right lean

Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Only on your ballot if you live in the South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue Regional Fire Authority.

Background

South County Fire's explanatory statement describes it as Snohomish County's largest fire and EMS provider. It says the capital facilities plan would replace six aging stations, build four new stations, and make seismic upgrades and improvements to four more.

The statement says repayment levies are expected to average about $0.194 per $1,000 of assessed value over the life of the bonds, with a maximum term of 25 years.

The pro argument cites an independent assessment finding that two-thirds of South County Fire's stations need major upgrades or replacement, and that emergency calls have risen more than 30% in a decade.

The con argument says the bond would exceed half a billion dollars with interest and that $91.4 million is for headquarters, warehouses and service buildings. It argues the district should limit the measure to its top priority: rebuilding six stations for $136.7 million.

Put on the ballot by Board of Fire Commissioners of South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue RFA, June 9, 2026 (Resolution No. 06092026-13).

From official source 1, official source 2.

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Also on Snohomish County ballots

• Snohomish County Public Hospital District No. 1 Proposition No. 1 — Bonds for New Replacement Hospital
• Snohomish County Fire Protection District No. 10 Proposition No. 1 — Annexation Into Shoreline Fire Department Regional Fire Authority

All Snohomish County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue Regional Fire Authority Proposition No. 1 mean?

South County Fire could issue up to $420,000,000 in bonds, maturing within 25 years and repaid with property taxes, to replace, renovate or seismically upgrade fire stations, build more stations and equip facilities.

What does a NO vote on South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue Regional Fire Authority Proposition No. 1 mean?

South County Fire would not issue these bonds, and the related property tax would not be levied.

How many votes does South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue Regional Fire Authority Proposition No. 1 need to pass?

A 60% supermajority: at least 60 out of every 100 YES and NO votes must be YES, so a measure can get a majority and still fail.

Should I vote yes or no on South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue Regional Fire Authority Proposition No. 1?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.