Residents in Lewis County will soon be asked to vote on three proposals to provide additional funding to local first responders.
When registered voters across the county receive their general election ballot in the mail, it will include a county-wide proposal that would increase Lewis County’s sales tax by .2 percent.
According to an explanatory statement in the county voter guide, the independent funding source would “stabilize funding for existing operations, allow for the replacement of outdated infrastructure and equipment, and allow for the implementation of new technologies ensuring the best possible 911 services to the people of Lewis County.”
The proposal would charge an additional tax of two cents for every $10 and is estimated to raise approximately $4 million in yearly revenue. Groceries, gas and medicine would be exempt from the tax.
In the voter’s guide, supporters of the tax wrote that the model has proven to be an “effective source of first responder funding for many counties.”
“Every time a resident of Lewis County makes purchases from Costco in Tumwater, they are supporting the Thurston County EMS system,” the argument states. “Switching from property tax-funded to sales tax-funded 911 services would allow Lewis County to maintain and upgrade its 911 center without future property tax increases for this purpose.”
The voter’s guide does not include an argument against the tax. During the 2023 election, the same proposition failed by about 3%, with roughly 600 more voters opposing the proposal than supporting it.
During the election, residents of Pe Ell will also be asked to establish a regular property tax levy for Lewis County Fire District 11 at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value to be assessed in 2024 and collected in 2025.
“The district’s Board of Commissioners has determined that this proposition is necessary to maintain an effective level of services, firefighter staffing, equipment and facilities in light of rising costs, rising demands and the continued growth of our community,” an explanatory statement for the proposal states. “Approval of this measure will allow the district to maintain the level of fire protection and emergency medical services provided to its citizens while also providing for firefighter safety.”
According to the explanatory statement, the fire district’s levy has dropped to approximately $.47 per thousand in 2023.
In Winlock, residents will be asked to establish Lewis County Fire District 15’s regular property tax levy in 2024 at an amount not to exceed $1.35 per $1,000 of assessed valuation and authorize setting the limit factor at 103% for each of the next five years.
According to the explanatory statement, the district has seen an increased demand for service in recent years and has more than doubled its call from 833 in 2020 to 1,794 in 2023.
As a result, Fire District 15 increased its staff from three full-time EMT/firefighters and three full-time lieutenants in 2022 to six of each in 2023.
In an argument for the proposal, supporters wrote that “authorization of this levy will also allow the district to prepare to meet the needs of new construction and growth within the district by maintaining and updating equipment.”
In opposition, those against the proposal wrote it may “adversely affect those on a fixed income.”
“Although the increase in rather small, from the current rate of $1.04/$1,000 to the proposed rate of $1.35/$1,000, would create an increase $7.00 a month, it is still an increase and as such we are in opposition to the measure,” the argument states.
The general election will be held on Nov. 5. Voters can check their voter registration status and voter registration address and register to vote online at www.votewa.gov.
More election information is available online at https://elections.lewiscountywa.gov.
