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Sedro‑Woolley council hears update on regional fire authority study; district 8 declines study
Summary
City staff reported that a feasibility study to explore a regional fire authority with Fire District 8 would cost an estimated $10,000–$15,000, but District 8 declined to proceed; council received the update with no action requested.
Sedro‑Woolley city staff and the fire chief provided an update on efforts to study a possible regional fire authority with Fire District 8, saying District 8’s board is not interested in pursuing a feasibility study at this time.
City staff said Chief Wagner obtained a rough estimate that a study exploring consolidation between the city and District 8 would cost about $10,000 to $15,000 in total, to be split between the two jurisdictions. Chief Wagner and staff told the council District 8 took the cost estimate back to its board and declined to proceed.
The update noted the city has received inquiries from other nearby cities about exploring a regional authority. Chief Wagner told the council the questions a feasibility study would answer include cost, effects on tax rates and whether moving to a fire authority would reverse or affect a recently passed levy-lid lift used to fund local fire protection. He also said such efforts can take several years to complete and should not be pursued as a short‑term budget fix.
Mayor Julia and staff said the item was an informational follow-up and no council motion or vote was required. Council members were invited to contact the chief with further questions.
The discussion was explicitly labeled a status update; no formal action, motion or referral was taken at the meeting.
