Residents of Mill Creek are faced with a pivotal decision regarding emergency service funding as the city contemplates annexation to South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue. The current contract with Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue is expiring, and renewal would result in substantial cost increases that could strain the city’s budget. Extensive research indicates that South County Fire offers the best value for maintaining quality emergency services. If the annexation is approved in the upcoming special election on April 26, 2022, property owners will pay for fire and EMS directly, which streamlines the funding process. The city plans to ease the tax impact by eliminating $4.

3 million in taxes associated with the current fire/EMS contract. Emergency personnel will not lose their jobs, ensuring continuity of service. The city has emphasized that service quality will remain uninterrupted, with South County Fire already responding to calls as the nearest responder. The outcome of this election could significantly affect the city's financial landscape and its ability to fund various essential services.