When voters across Lewis County submit their ballots for this November’s general election, they will decide on four district and county ballot measures.
Ballots for residents either overseas or in the military were mailed Friday. The 18-day voting period will begin on Oct. 20. Ballots are due by 8 p.m. on Nov. 7. Learn more at https://elections.lewiscountywa.gov.
Here’s a rundown of what voters will be asked:
• Lewis County wants to impose a .2% sales tax to create an independent funding source for 911 Communications. According to an explanatory statement on the Secretary of State’s website, the current funding model creates difficulties in replacing infrastructure and equipment. Lewis County 911 Communications answers and dispatches police, fire, EMS and other emergency services in Lewis County through interlocal agreements with local agencies and is funded through those agreements.
• Lewis County Fire District 3 will again ask Mossyrock residents for a levy lid lift. If adopted, the lift would increase the levy for residents from $0.37 per $1,000 to $0.90 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2024. The levy rate would increase for the next five years between 4% and 8%. According to the explanatory statement, this would be the first lid lift since incorporation in 1948. In the August primary election, 52% of residents voted against the proposal.
• Lewis County Fire Protection District 9 in Mineral will ask to renew the district EMS levy, which funds emergency personnel, training, equipment, vehicles and facilities for the district. The six-year levy renewal will ask residents for up to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which is $150 a year on a $300,000 home valuation.
• Residents of the Napavine School District will again be asked to pass a bond to update and renovate school facilities. A bond attempt in February received 54.1% approval, below the 60% supermajority needed to pass bonds in Washington. Napavine wants to pass a $19 million bond, which would fund safety upgrades, new classrooms at the middle school, a new middle school auxiliary gym and infrastructure improvements, among other upgrades. The district estimates the bond would cost $1.46 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $584 per year for a $400,000 home.
