SeaTac voters will decide Sept. 19 whether to raise their property taxes to fund replacement of two fire stations and the hiring of additional firefighters.

City council members voted unanimously April 25 to place the levy lid lift proposal on the ballot.

If passed, the city would increase total property tax revenues by 4 percent each year until 2012.

A state initiative approved by voters limits property tax increases to 1 percent above the previous year’s rate unless local voters approve a change.

Des Moines voters will be asked at a May 16 election to raise their property tax lid to fund additional police services. A similar proposal failed twice previously.

Fire Chief Bob Meyer said the SeaTac ballot measure is detailed in what the extra taxes would fund.

“The voters want specifics,” Meyer added.

Councilman Joe Brennan said purchasing bonds to fund fire improvements would add interest payments while a temporary tax increase would be “pay as you go.”

Firefighters union president Richard Knight told lawmakers they “made the right step in a long range plan to protect citizens and the city.”

With the additional revenue, SeaTac would replace fire stations at 3215 S. 152nd St. and 2929 S. 200th St.

Lawmakers voted March 28 to rebuild an expanded fire station at 3521 S. 170th St. using reserve funds.

Consultants have reported the current stations do not meet earthquake codes.

The new McMicken Heights station would house department headquarters, a training facility and a ladder truck. The city has not had a ladder truck since 1996.

Staffers have indicated that four homes adjoining the station would be purchased to accommodate the expansion.

Jeannette Arnold, who owns one of the homes, complained to lawmakers at the April 25 meeting that she did not know her property may be condemned until reading an article in the April 4 Times/News.

City Manager Craig Ward replied that while he presumes additional properties will be needed, the architectural designs have not been drawn up.

If the plans show more property is needed, the city would then be required to notify surrounding neighbors, Ward said.

An upset Brennan reacted, “One of the most impacted people in the community was not notified. The city didn’t ask for a bit of community input.”

If the lid lift is approved, property tax rates would increase from $2.77 per $1,000 of assessed home value to $3.10 for six years.

The additional revenues would also pay for an increase in daily fire personnel from 10 to 15 and the staffing of an emergency aid car.

According to Meyer, staffing levels have not changed in 13 years, although service calls have gone up 68 percent.

Lawmakers also authorized Police Chief Greg Dymerski to apply for federal funds to purchase an auto theft “bait car” and automated voice recognition software for police vehicles.

If a thief attempted to steal the bait car, he would be confronted by a vehicle equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS), automatic ignition shut-off, automatic door lock and a video tracking system.

The software allows a patrolling police officer to verbally enter a passing vehicle license plate number into the police car’s computer, and receive a quick response on whether the car has been reported stolen.

Dymerski said SeaTac would be the first city in the state to receive the software. The city contracts with King County for police services.

Eric Mathison can be reached at hteditor@robinsonnews.com or 206-388-1855.