Napavine School District Superintendent Rick Jones, left, leaves the Lewis County Auditor's Office as Riverside Fire Authority Fire Chief Mike Kytta looks over the results of a special election on Tuesday night at the Historic Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis.
Voters approved the Riverside Fire Authority’s request to continue a levy with broad support, according to preliminary results for the special election Tuesday.
Of 3,529 votes, 70.08 percent were in favor of the levy and 29.92 percent were opposed.
Fire Chief Mike Kytta said he is both relieved and grateful for the results.
“When I speak of grateful I say with seven out of 10 voters approving the levy, that’s very, very meaningful to us,” he said. “We really see that as being something the citizens we serve, value.”
The measure on the ballot, which was a continuation of a levy currently in place, will help keep eight full-time paramedics employed. Without the money, Kytta said, the district may have lost more than 30 percent of its full-time work force.
“If it was not successful, I don’t know how we could absorb that kind of loss, that many positions, and still keep the service levels we strive to provide,” he said.
The money will also be used for training and equipment needs to support the department’s volunteer responders. The chief said the levy is a vital part of the district’s long-term strategy to return financial stability to the program.
“It’s an important piece that came together for us last night and it will certainly help us to plan over the next several years,” Kytta said Wednesday.
The six-year levy beginning in 2016 will support emergency medical services and costs taxpayers 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation annually. For a $200,000 home, that equates to $100.
The existing six-year levy for the same amount, the maximum allowable by law, was voted into effect in 2009.
RFA is down seven paid employees due to reduced income from property taxes, which Kytta said led to adjustments in call responses.
He previously told The Chronicle the agency will work to bring staff numbers back up while staying within its means. The department also hopes to reduce aid calls by doing more public education and outreach.
Voters approved a one-year $800,000 maintenance and operations levy last August that took effect at the beginning of this year.
That money goes toward the fire and rescue side of the agency.
Kytta said it was difficult to ask voters to continue the EMS levy after asking the community to pass the maintenance and operations levy just eight months prior.
“”We’re very fortunate that we’ve enjoyed this much support from the people here,” he said. “... I’m very excited about the opportunity to continue with the programs that we have and do better if we can.”
RFA serves about 23,000 residents in a 185-square-mile area. It has six basic life support stations, two advanced life support stations, 33 volunteers and 22 full-time employees.
The vote will be certified on May 12.
