Who are you going to call if you have a fire or medical emergency? The Marysville Fire Department.

And wouldn’t you feel better knowing they are fully staffed so they can be there as quickly as possible? Of course you would.

So please vote in favor of the Regional Fire Authority when you fill out your ballot for Proposition 1 in this April 23 election. It may seem like government is always asking for more money, but that’s not the case when it comes to your fire department. The last time it increased your fire levy was 2007.

That government entity decided not to raise your taxes because of the recession. Instead, it used reserves to fill the gap. But those reserves are running out. If the RFA is not approved, there could be cuts in services. How tragic it would be if loss of life – or even property – was a result of residents trying to save money.

The MFD and Snohomish County Fire District 12 have been working together for decades. An RFA solidifies that relationship, improves efficiencies, is more cost effective, provides more stable funding and service, and helps with long-range planning. It would help meet future growth and increasing service demands in the community.

It would also be more responsive to taxpayers, as it would be represented by four Marysville City Council members and one District 12 fire commissioner. The RFA would officially be formed Oct. 1, and taxes would be collected starting in 2020.

Cost of the measure is $1.45 per $1,000 valuation. On a $300,000 home, that’s $435 a year. For not much more than $1 a day, that certainly would bring peace of mind for any resident in Marysville or District 12.