King County voters will see a property tax levy on the April 28 special election ballot seeking funds to replace the county’s emergency radio system.

The King County Council approved the ordinance 8-1 to place the nine-year property tax levy lid lift on the ballot. Councilman Pete von Reichbauer voted against the measure.

The lid lift allows the county to collect property taxes above the state limitation.

According to King County Councilman Joe McDermott, the sponsor of the ordinance, the levy will replace the county’s emergency radio system. McDermont said at the March 2 council meeting that the levy would raise $273 million.

David Mendel, Regional Communications services manager, said after 2018 the vendor “level of support” for the radio system will end and the risk of catastrophic failure of the system increases.

According to the county, the current system has been in place for about 20 years. It consists of 26 transmitter sites and multiple interconnecting microwave and fiber systems supporting more than 100 agencies and about 16,000 radio users, each with a portable radio handset and/or installed mobile radio in a vehicle. The system was designed to serve a smaller population over a smaller area when it went online. If approved, the new system would provide improved coverage within the county.