My wife and I support the sales and use tax measure to support our 911 center that will be on the November ballot. It is 2 cents added onto a $10 purchase, which is a tiny amount to help fund our emergency communications center and infrastructure.
Right now, we pay for this with property taxes.
A sales and use tax is charged on all the goods and services purchased in this county (except groceries, gas and medicines, of course), and it’s paid for by both residents and visitors alike. That means the funding comes from many different people instead of just Lewis County property owners. This is particularly beneficial in today’s world when so many people are struggling with rising property taxes.
Voting yes on this sales and use tax measure will allow us to keep our 911 system up to date, and it will pay for the personnel needed to run the center. It’s a win-win for the entire community.
When we shop in Thurston County for instance, we pay a portion of their higher sales tax rate to support their 911 operations. It’s fair for us to do so since we may someday need the services of their 911 center. The same is not so when Thurston County residents shop in Lewis County. They are not paying any sales and use tax toward our 911 center so if and when they need to call for help, they are not helping to support it. No, the visitors to the county are not the only ones that will pay the tax. We all will but now it will include the visitors to the county that spend here.
I have not ever supported a general tax increase in the past except for the occasional school, fire district or other emergency services levies. However, knowing the scope of our 911 system countywide as I do and that public safety is a primary duty of government, it needs to be supported.
A recently conducted Lewis County Board of County Commissioners survey reported that the No. 1 priority of the survey respondents was public safety. This measure is, in part, about public safety. If it truly is a priority for residents then we need to support this measure. The next 911 call could be to get the help to you and what would you be willing to pay to get the help you need in an emergency? My family was grateful for our 911 and Fire District 5 who provided prompt responses and professional services during the last two years of my mother’s life; I will forever be grateful to those who answered the calls and who responded in our times of need. We are showing our gratitude by voting yes on this initiative in November.
Frank Corbin
Chehalis
