Ballots for the Nov. 5 general election have been mailed, and in addition to voting candidates into county, state and federal office, voters are asked to weigh in on several local proposals to provide additional funding to first responders.
The three Lewis County measures on the ballot are:
• Lewis County E-911 Sales Tax: If passed, the measure would increase the sales and use tax within Lewis County by two-tenths of 1% for the purpose of providing funds for the costs associated with financing, design, acquisition, construction, equipping, operating, maintaining, remodeling, repairing, re-equipping and improvements of emergency communications systems and facilities. 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. All Lewis County voters will see this measure on their ballots.
• Lewis County Fire District 11 (Pe Ell) Property Tax for Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services: If passed, the measure would allow District 11 to set its regular property tax at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. The funds will maintain and improve fire protection and emergency medical services, replace apparatus, equipment and facilities and provide for firefighter safety. The district’s current levy rate is 47 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Only voters within Lewis County Fire District 11 will see this measure on their ballots.
• Lewis County Fire District 15 (Winlock) Property Tax Levy for Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services: If passed, the measure would finance fire protection and emergency medical services by establishing the District’s regular property tax levy in 2024 at an amount not to exceed $1.35 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation and authorize setting the limit factor at 103% for each of the following five years. District 15’s current levy rate is approximately $1.04 per $1,000 of assessed value. Only voters within Lewis County Fire District 15 will see this measure on their ballots.
Affecting voters in West Thurston County is a levy request from the West Thurston Regional Fire Authority, which serves the Rochester and Littlerock areas.
If passed, the proposal would create a single-year excess levy at a rate of 38 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to fund maintenance and operations.
An excess levy is a levy imposed on top of regular property taxes. West Thurston Regional Fire Authority has not had an excess levy since the previous one expired at the end of 2022, prompting the fire authority to lay off staff and shut down several fire stations.
The fire authority last attempted to pass a maintenance and operations levy in 2022, at which time it failed to reach the supermajority required to pass.
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 and https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/auditor/elections.
