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Orting City Council to Vote on Fire District Annexation
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By Melissa Santos, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash.
Jan. 3, 2010

Orting Valley Fire & Rescue and the City of Orting have reconciled some of their differences and are looking to combine services once again.

The Orting City Council will meet Monday to discuss a proposal for the city to annex into Orting Valley Fire & Rescue, also known as Pierce County Fire District 18.

Right now, the city pays the fire district about $1.1 million a year to provide Orting residents with fire service, but the city isn't officially part of the fire district, which covers about 27 square miles outside the city limits.

City officials want to annex into the district because they say they don't have the money to continue paying district officials $1.1 million each year, Bethune said.

The city has been selling surplus fire equipment to pay for part of the contract the past two years, but will run out of equipment to sell at the end of 2010, Bethune said. That will leave the city $150,000 short of meeting the contract payment in 2011, he said.

The annexation would result in a property tax increase for Orting residents of 55 cents per $1,000 in assessed value, Bethune said. That's because people served by Orting Valley Fire & Rescue pay about 55 cents more per $1,000 for fire service than Orting citizens, he said.

"What we're trying to say to the citizens is we have really not been paying our share in some sense," Bethune said last month. "With the revenues this city brings in we cannot afford that level of service."

The difference would amount to an extra $137.50 per year for the owner of a $250,000 home.

Residents are invited to come to the Orting council meeting Monday and comment on the proposed annexation and the tax change that would accompany it.

Should the Orting City Council approve the annexation ordinance Monday, voters would still need to approve the annexation for it to move forward. Orting officials would like that vote to occur April 27, Bethune said.

It wasn't long ago when Orting officials questioned whether they wanted to continue their existing contract with Orting Valley Fire & Rescue, let alone annex into the district.

Orting leaders became angry when fire district commissioners terminated Fire Chief Randy Shelton in July. City officials said they weren't consulted or let in on the details of the decision and briefly considered ending their contract with the district.

Now, officials on both sides say their relationship has improved and annexation is in the best interest of the city and the district.

For Orting Valley Fire & Rescue, annexing the city would ensure that the fire district's funding stays steady, said Shawn Mahoney, one of the fire district commissioners.

The district's contract with Orting amounts to about 30 percent of its annual budget, Mahoney said. Without that money, the quality of service would drop in the fire district, he said.

"If we have to go our separate ways, there is no way we can keep our service levels where they are right now," Mahoney said Dec. 22. "Putting us together as one makes more sense."

Orting Valley Fire & Rescue's Board of Commissioners also must approve the annexation effort for it to move forward. Board chairman Troy West said commissioners fully support the annexation.

"I'm just hoping it all works out and the voters approve it," West said.

Melissa Santos: 253-552-7058

melissa.santos@thenewstribune.com

COUNCIL TO DISCUSS ANNEXATION

The Orting City Council will review an ordinance Monday that would approve the city's annexation into Orting Valley Fire & Rescue, also known as Pierce County Fire District 18. A public vote would still need to occur for the annexation to move forward.

Orting residents can share their thoughts on the annexation proposal at Monday's meeting at 7 p.m. in the Orting Public Safety Building, 401 Washington Ave. S.E.

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