Both of West Thurston Fire Authority’s ballot measures asking voters in District 1, Rochester, and District 11, Littlerock, to renew the fire authority’s levy at a higher rate were leaning toward failure as of preliminary counts Tuesday night.
The levy proposal itself is split into two ballot items, one for each district encompassed by West Thurston, but both proposals ask for the same rates: approximately $1.71 for 2023, $1.63 for 2024, $1.55 for 2025 and $1.48 for 2026.
As of Tuesday evening, 58.8% of Rochester voters approved the levy, for a total of 1,787 yes votes, while 41,2%, or 1,252 voters, opposed.
In Littlerock, 50.15%, or 1,296 votes, favored the levy and 49.85%, or 1,288, opposed.
Each measure requires a supermajority of 60% of the vote plus one to pass. The fire authority has previously stated it will not levy any amount if the measure passes in one district and fails in the other.
West Thurston Fire’s board of commissioners calculated the rates for the ballot request — which are significantly higher than the 83 cent rate set to expire at the end of this year — based on the fire authority’s current needs and projected increased call volumes over the next few years.
This election marks West Thurston Regional Fire Authority’s second attempt to pass its maintenance and operation levy. The two ballot measures on the August 2022 primary ballot both garnered over 50% of the vote but failed to reach the required super majority. If West Thurston Fire tries for the levy again in 2023 and passes it then, the fire authority won’t be able to collect the levy until the following year.
With West Thurston Regional Fire Authority’s current levy expiring at the end of this year, the fire authority anticipates it will need to close 50% of its stations and lay off 50% of its staff to account for the loss of funding should the measures not pass.
