Today, November 3, Skyway and West Hill voters are deciding whether to approve a $16 million bond for King County Fire District 20.
As I reviewed the ballot measure, I wanted to understand what the improvements would cost and whether the proposed spending was necessary. The public-facing ballot information explained the projects, but I couldn't initially find an itemized cost estimate.
So I called the fire district.
Fire Chief Eric Hicks took my call and followed up with an email just minutes ago, providing a 20-page architectural presentation prepared by Lawhead Architects on June 8, 2026. The presentation includes proposed building layouts, renovations, and a cost estimate on page A18.
Here’s the breakdown:
Vehicle and supply storage, including decontamination facilities: $5,973,777
Generator, exercise facility, and parking: $3,044,905
Fire Station 22 renovations: $3,282,057
Additional contingency budget: $1,000,000
Total construction project estimate: $13,300,739
Chief Hicks also clarified that the estimate does not include a new fire engine, currently projected to cost $1.6 million, plus potential overruns.
Together, that brings the identified costs to approximately $14.9 million, leaving about $1.1 million between those estimates and the proposed $16 million bond. That difference deserves clarification, particularly regarding additional contingencies, financing costs, and potential overruns.
The architectural plans also show that the renovations extend beyond emergency infrastructure. They include kitchen, bathroom, dormitory, flooring, lighting, and exercise facility improvements, alongside vehicle storage, decontamination, and emergency power infrastructure.
These may all serve legitimate operational purposes, but voters should be able to understand the costs and priorities before making a decision.
I appreciate Chief Hicks taking the time to respond so quickly, especially on Election Day. His willingness to share the documentation helped answer an important question about where the money would go.
I still believe an independent seismic assessment, equipment condition reports, and comparisons with less expensive alternatives would help establish which improvements are most urgent and necessary.
Public safety matters. So does responsible stewardship of public money. We should be able to support our firefighters while asking thoughtful questions about how we fund their needs.
An informed community is a stronger community.
#Skyway #WestHill #KingCounty #FireDistrict20 #Election2026 #PublicSafety #GovernmentTransparency
