King County Elections sent out ballots for the mail-only Feb. 9 special election Wednesday.
Ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 9. The county eliminated all drop boxes due to cost except for one at King County Administration Building, 50 Fourth Ave. in Seattle and one at the King County Elections Headquarters, 9010 East Marginal Way S. in Tukwila.
The special election includes school levies, a measure to increase the number of commissioners for King County Fire District No. 43 and a King County rural library proposition.
Kent School District
The Kent School District is asking voters to approve Proposition No. 1, a programs and operation levy and Proposition No. 2, a technology levy. The levies are property tax measures.
Proposition No. 1 states it will replace an expiring levy, “for support of the Districts General Fund school programs and operations expenses.”
If approved the proposition would collect $3.16 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2011, $3.28 in 2012, $3.30 in 2013 and $3.28 in 2014.
Proposition No. 2 is a levy for technology improvements.
The levy would collect 28 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2011 and 2012, 27 cents in 2013 and 26 cents in 2014.
Tahoma School District
The Tahoma School District has two propositions on the ballot‚ a programs and operations levy and technology levy.
Proposition No. 1 is the programs and operation levy, which is a property tax.
In 2011 the levy would collect $3.40 per $1,000 of assessed value, $3.48 in 2012, $3.62 in 2013 and $3.77 in 2014.
Proposition No. 2 is the district’s technology levy. The levy would collect 57 cents per $1,000 in 2011, 55 cents in 2012, 53 cents in 2013 and 51 cents in 2014.
• Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety, Fire District No. 43, is asking voters to decide if the board of commissioners should be increased from three members to five.
Expanding the board would allow two members to meet without making up a quorum.
Interim Fire Chief Brad Doerflinger stated with the increase in population in the area served by the district, expanding the commission to five members would give better representation to its residents.
If voters approve the measure, Proposition No. 1, the board will set up a process to select the two commissioners. One of the commissioners will serve a two year term and one a four year term before running for election.
• King County Library
The King County Rural Library District board is running Proposition No. 1 asking to restore a property tax levy for operations and maintenance of the system.
The 2011 collection rate would be 50 cents per $1,000.
More information about each measure can be found on the King County Elections Web site, www.kingcounty.gov/elections.
