As members of the communities throughout Lewis County, we are writing to encourage support for the sales tax initiative for our 911 Communications Center. Voters are being asked to consider a two-tenths of 1% sales tax to address emergency communications needs in Lewis County. This initiative will be on your ballot for the Nov. 7 general election. This sales tax represents 20 cents for every $100.00 spent and would:
• Provide an independent funding source for emergency communications, reducing reliance on property tax revenue.
• Allow the 911 center to receive funding from tourists, shoppers and travelers that use the system but are not currently providing funding for it.
• Stabilize funding for 911 operations, including maintenance and support of communications systems.
• Allow for the implementation of new technologies that would help 911 provide faster and more efficient assistance to the public and first responders.
• Not be collected on most prescription medications, non-prepared food (grocery store), nor gasoline.
This sales tax is already in place in counties all over Washington; when you shop in Olympia or Longview, you are paying for their 911 communications system. Shoppers and travelers passing through our county use local emergency services when they need them — but they are not directly contributing to help cover the costs for those services. This sales tax would help bring balance to that burden.
As fellow citizens, we strongly urge you to join us in supporting the two tenths of 1% sales tax for emergency communication services in Lewis County.
Andy Caldwell
Cein Caldwell
Gregg Peterson
Ruth Peterson
Stacy Denham
Tracy Murphy
Brad Flexhaug
Jim Martin
TG Neason
Bob Willey
Paul Evers
