CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to emergency medical services; authorizing execution, pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act, of an agreement with King County regarding the imposition and allocation of property tax revenues generated by a six-year, voter-approved King County-wide tax levy for emergency medical services; approving the submittal by King County of a proposition to the voters seeking authority to levy those additional taxes; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
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WHEREAS, King County desires to place before the qualified electors of King County a ballot proposition authorizing the County to levy additional regular property taxes in amounts up to 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation each year, for exactly six consecutive years, on all taxable property within King County for the support of emergency medical services (EMS), pursuant to the powers granted to it in RCW 84.52.069; and
WHEREAS, RCW 84.52.069 does not permit a county-wide regular tax levy for emergency medical services to be placed on the ballot until after the legislative authority of 75 percent of all cities having a population in excess of 50,000 within such county has approved such action; and
WHEREAS, King County proposes to carry out its obligation to provide emergency medical services on a County-wide basis by, among other actions, making funds available for expenses incurred in the City's independent emergency medical services program by allocating and transferring to the City that portion of the tax revenues generated by the County EMS tax levy that is attributable to taxable property within the City of Seattle, with certain minimum amounts established; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The placing before the qualified electors of King County, pursuant to the powers granted to King County by RCW 84.52.069, of a ballot proposition on November 4, 2025, authorizing the County to levy each year for exactly six consecutive years commencing in 2025 (for collection beginning in 2026) additional regular property taxes Countywide in amounts up to $0.25 per $1,000 dollars of assessed valuation on all taxable property within King County, for the support of emergency medical services (EMS), is approved, conditioned upon the execution by King County, prior to placement of the measure on the ballot, of the interlocal agreement authorized by Section 2 of this ordinance, and subject to the terms of that agreement.
Section 2. The Mayor is authorized to execute, for and on behalf of The City of Seattle, an agreement with King County substantially in the form of the attached Exhibit A, "Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for Allocation of Property Tax Revenues between The City of Seattle and King County." No deviation from the form of agreement shown in Exhibit A may reduce the City's right to receive the minimum amounts shown in Paragraph 3 of Exhibit A.
Section 3. Execution by the Mayor of the agreement authorized by Section 2 of this ordinance prior to the effective date of this ordinance is ratified and confirmed.
Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force on the latest of: (a) 30 days after its approval by the Mayor; (b) 30 days after the Mayor’s unsigned return; (c) 45 days after Council passage if the Mayor does not return within ten days after presentation; (d) the date of reconsidered Council passage of this ordinance over the Mayor's disapproval; or (e) the date the King County Executive signs, on behalf of King County, the agreement authorized by Section 2 of this ordinance, having first been authorized to do so by ordinance or motion of the King County Council.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2025, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this ________ day of _________________________, 2025.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved / returned unsigned / vetoed this ____day of _______________, 2025.
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Bruce A. Harrell, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2025.
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Scheereen Dedman, City Clerk
(Seal)
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - 2026-2031 EMS Levy ILA between KC and Seattle
Exhibit 1 - Emergency Medical Services Levy Overview - Proposed Financial Plan (King County March 2025 Forecast)