A special election next Tuesday will decide if King County Fire Districts 17 and 44 merge.

District 44, also known as Mountain View Fire and Rescue, has operated the two fire departments as a single unit for two years under an interlocal agreement. District 17 has no fire stations, aid vehicles or personnel of its own. It hasn’t operated its own fire department for more than 10 years, since the city of Black Diamond annexed Lake Sawyer and assumed operation of the fire department. Black Diamond later contracted with Fire District 44 to provide service in the city and District 17.

A merger, which would take effect Jan. 1, 2009, would give District 17 residents a direct voice in District 44 operations, officials said.

Both districts are funded under the same state laws regulating property taxes. No new property taxes or funding methods are included in the merger proposal.

The election is totally by mail, at the request of the district. Ballot must be mailed back by voters to the King County elections department by Tuesday for it to be counted in the results.

Voters who haven’t received an absentee ballot can contact the elections department at (206) 296-8683 or http://www.kingcounty.gov/vote.aspx.