At least six local fire chiefs say they have serious concerns about the Snohomish County Council's plans to float a criminal justice sales tax measure.
The chiefs say the current draft of the tax measure would mislead voters into thinking some of the money could be used for firefighting. They're also worried that message would compete with fire department levies running on the same ballot in the Aug. 2 election.
The fire chiefs say they support additional resources for law enforcement but not the language of the county's current proposal, the title of which includes the phrase “criminal justice and fire protection purposes.”
The tax proposal is scheduled for a public hearing at 10:30 a.m. Monday.
“The reality is this ordinance and ballot title is a lie,” Gold Bar Fire Chief Eric Andrews wrote in a letter to council members. “I realize that is a strong word, and I know none of you knowingly would want to include this, but it is clearly misrepresentative of the funding that this levy will provide.”
Sheriff Ty Trenary on Thursday said he was working on an amendment to the legislation that would remove the language causing backlash.
“There was never any intent to hurt our fire districts,” Trenary said. “I believe we will get this corrected.” The legislation proposes a 0.2 percent sales tax increase to support law and justice. The county says the money would be used to add deputies and prosecutors and address the community heroin epidemic and other crime problems.