Lewis County Fire District 5’s levy proposal had a comfortable lead on election night, with 58% of the ballots counted on Tuesday in favor.
The count as of 8:10 p.m. on election night was 969 votes in favor to 684 votes against.
If passed, the measure would permanently increase the Napavine-based fire district’s levy from approximately 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to $1.20 per $1,000 of assessed value. Collection on the new rate would start in 2024.
The funds would maintain and improve fire protection, emergency medical services and facilities, replace apparatus and equipment, and provide for resident staffing of Station 2 on Jackson Highway, according to a statement the district submitted to the voter’s guide.
District 5 attempted to pass a slightly higher levy proposal, $1.28 per $1,000 of assessed value, twice in the last two years. The measure failed by one vote in the August 2021 primary and by approximately 55 votes in the August 2022 primary, according to previous Chronicle reporting.
In the first round of ballots counted, just 21.82% of Lewis County’s 35,140 registered voters had turned out. Over 7,600 ballots had been counted throughout the county, and the next set of results was slated to come in at 4 p.m. on Aug. 2.
The election will be certified on Aug. 15 at the Lewis County Courthouse.
For questions about the election, visit the Lewis County Auditor’s Office at 351 NW North St., Chehalis or call 360-740-1164.
Full preliminary results from the Lewis County primary election can be found here: https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20230801/lewis/.
