Supporters of Lewis County 911 call center tax to host upcoming town halls

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Lewis County voters hoping to learn more about the proposal to raise the county’s sales tax by .2% to fund 911 operation services will be able to sit in on five upcoming town hall meetings.

The Citizens for Lewis County 911 political action committee (PAC) will host five town hall-style events across the county to increase support for the proposal ahead of the November election.

Currently, between Washington’s minimum sales tax, 6.5%, and the county’s, 1.3%, unincorporated county residents currently pay a 7.8% sales tax, according to the Department of Revenue for Washington state. Some cities also collect a percentage. Sales tax rates in Centralia and Chehalis are currently 8.2%, according to previous reporting by The Chronicle.

If passed, Lewis County would collect an additional .2% sales tax to fund its 911 call center, a rate of two cents for every $10. According to Elizabeth Cameron, president of Citizens for Lewis County 911 PAC, groceries, gas and medicine would be exempted from the tax.

During Tuesday’s Board of Lewis County Commissioners business meeting, Cameron said the sessions are meant to clear up any confusion voters may have.

“They’re so used to having property taxes, I want them to fully understand what the sales and use tax will do for them,” Cameron said. “We want them to understand that they are not alone in that sales and use tax contribution.”

Each town hall will run from 6 to 9 p.m., and the events include:



• Sept. 9 at the Packwood Senior Community Center, located at 12931 U.S. Highway  in Packwood.

• Sept. 16 at the Mossyrock Community Center, located at 212 E. State St. in Mossyrock.

• Sept. 23 at the Pe Ell School, located at 519 N. Second St. in Pe Ell.

• Sept. 30 at the Toledo Senior Center, located at 150 Coal St. in Toledo.

• Oct. 7 at the Twin Cities Senior Center, located at 2545 N. National Ave. in Chehalis.

During the November election, the proposition failed by about 3%, with roughly 600 more voters opposing the proposal than supporting it. The initiative had support from the City of Centralia, the Fire Chiefs Association, and the 911 Communications Combined User Committee for Lewis County, among others.