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SUBJECTS › GOVERNANCE › Regional Fire Protection Service Authority
Updated 09/09

Regional Fire Protection Service Authority

Contents

About Regional Fire Protection Service Authorities

A regional fire protection service authority is a  special purpose district created by the vote of the people residing in the proposed district.  It is municipal corporation, an independent taxing authority within the meaning of Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution, and a taxing district within the meaning of Article VII, section 2 of the state Constitution.  Its boundaries are coextensive with two or more adjacent fire protection jurisdictions (fire district, city, town, port district, or Indian tribe).  The first step in forming the district is to create a regional fire protection service authority planning committee to draft a regional fire protection service authority plan.  The planning committee is composed of three elected officials appointed by the governing bodies of each of the participating fire protection districts and departments.

Upon receipt of the regional fire protection service authority plan, the governing bodies of  fire protection jurisdictions may certify the plan to the ballot and put the plan before the voters for their approval or rejection.  A single ballot measure may approve formation of the authority and the plan.  If three-fifths of votes cast are in favor, then the district is declared organized by resolution of the county commissioners.  The governing board of the authority shall be determined by the plan and consist solely of elected officials.  It is responsible for the execution of the voter-approved plan.  Participating jurisdictions shall review the plan every ten years.

  • Ch 52.26 RCW - Authorizes the formation of regional fire protection service authorities whose boundaries are coextensive with two or more adjacent fire protection jurisdictions
  • Regional Fire Authority:  Implementation Guide for Fire Departments in Washington State ( 545 KB), jointly developed by the Washington Fire Chiefs (WFC) and the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters (WSCF), September 2008.
  • Regional Fire Protection Service Authorities as a Revenue Tool, by Dan Heid, City Attorney of Auburn, Proceedings of the Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys' 2008 Annual Fall Conference, MRSC Information Bulletin No. 531, October 2008.

Regional Fire Protection Service Authorities

Proposed Regional Fire Protection Service Authorities