King County April Election: What's On The Ballot

KIRKLAND, WA — Don't worry, if you haven't voted in the April 2019 King County special election, there's still time.

You can still mail in your ballot today as long as it's postmarked April 23. But the best way to vote is to drop off your ballot at a King County drop box. You can find a map of those here. Remember, drop boxes close at 8 p.m. (you will be allowed to drop your ballot if you're in line at that time).

So what's up for election?

Plenty. There's a Lake Washington School District capital levy, a merger between two King County fire districts, fire protection benefit charges, and more. Voters in places from Woodinville to Vashon Island will be voting the election, but most cities in King County are sitting this one out.

Here's what's on the April 2019 special election ballot:

Lake Washington School District Capital Levy

This six-year levy will allow LWSD to make upgrades at school buildings, including school safety upgrades. If approved, the district will spend $20 million each year for building an auxiliary gym and commons, plus other additions, at Lake Washington High School; and classroom additions at Carson, Franklin, Rose Hill and Twain elementary schools, among other upgrades.

Here's how much the levy will cost taxpayers each year:

• 2020 $0.29 per $1,000 of assessed value
• 2021 $0.28 per $1,000 of assessed value
• 2022 $0.27 per $1,000 of assessed value
• 2023 $0.26 per $1,000 of assessed value
• 2024 $0.25 per $1,000 of assessed value
• 2025 $0.25 per $1,000 of assessed value

King County Fire District 27 Merger

Approving this measure will allow District 27 (the Fall City Fire Department) to merge with District 10, better known as Eastside Fire and Rescue, which serves Issaquah, Sammamish, and North Bend. The merger will reportedly save local taxpayers $285,000 in annual operating costs. But Fall City residents are concerned the merger will force theme to cede local control.

Fire District 40 Benefit Charge

District 40 serves the Cascade-Fairwood area near Renton. Residents in the service area already pay the benefit charge. Approving this measure will allow the fire department to maintain service.

Hospital District No. 2 (Evergreen Health)

Approving this measure would allow the hospital district to issue $345 million in bonds for numerous hospital upgrades, including: seismic upgrades; a new critical care center; an update for the maternity center; and new medical office buildings. Because this is a bond measure, it needs 60 percent approval PLUS at least 56,283 people voting in the election (who live in District 2).

Cities in Hospital District 2 include: Kirkland, Redmond, Woodinville, Kenmore, Duvall and parts of Bothell, Carnation, and Sammamish

Woodinville Fire Benefit Charge

Woodinville residents have been paying this benefit charge since 1989. Approving this measure will keep it going for another six years. It's an essential funding source, making up 44 percent of the department's annual budget.

(The April ballot also includes a levy renewal for the Vashon-Maury Island Park and Recreation District.)

Election Day is April 23. That's the deadline to get ballots postmarked or dropped in a ballot box.