Lewis County Voters to Consider Eight Local Propositions, Two State Initiatives and Four Advisory Issues in General Election

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Lewis County voters will have not only a handful of state issues to consider on the Nov. 3 general election ballot, but a some will also be voting on local propositions as well. 

A total of eight local issues have been approved for the ballot. 

Centralia voters will consider approving the collection of a 0.2 percent tax from retail sales in the Transportation Benefit District to be used for transportation improvement projects in Centralia. If approved, the tax would be effective from 2016 until 2025.

The city of Chehalis is proposing the replacement of an expiring emergency medical care or services levy up to 50 cents per $1,000 of property valuation. The levy would be effective from 2016 until 2021.

Vader residents will have the chance to decide if they should instead become citizens of Little Falls with a proposed name change for the town on the ballot.

The Adna School District is asking voters for approval of an $8.183 million bond to construct and equip classrooms, build a gymnasium, expand parking, abate asbestos, remodel and make other improvements. The bonds would mature in 20 years, if approved.

Lewis County Fire District 3 in Mossyrock is asking voters to again consider a $1.2 million bond to construct a new fire station. Voters last considered the issue, which needs 60 percent approval, in April. The property for the new station has already been purchased.

In the Newaukum Valley, Lewis County Fire Protection District 5 is asking voters to consider permanently increasing its regular property tax levy for maintenance, operations and facilities from 83 cents to $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

Lewis County Fire District 11 in Pe Ell is also looking to increase its property tax levy for maintenance, operations and capital facilities. Pe Ell voters will consider paying $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.



Voters in the combined Cowlitz and Lewis counties Fire District 20 will consider an emergency medical care and services levy up to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Two state initiatives will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot for consideration. 

Initiative 1366 would decrease the sales tax rate from 6.5 percent to 5.5 percent, and require that an increase be approved by voters or two-thirds of the members of each legislative house. 

If approved, Initiative 1401 would make selling, purchasing, trading or distributing certain animals or products from species threatened with extinction a gross misdemeanor or a class C felony. 

Advisory Vote No. 10 asks voters if oil spill response and administration taxes applied to rail transportation for oil and petroleum productions should be repealed or maintained.

Voters will also consider Advisory Vote No. 11, which asks whether a marijuana excise tax on medical marijuana sales should be repealed or kept.

On the ballot, Advisory Vote No. 12 asks residents if the additional legislative-imposed motor vehicle and special fuels taxes should be repealed or maintained. 

The final advisory vote, No. 13, asks Washingtonians if the Legislature’s decision to increase business and occupation tax revenues and exclude some software manufacturers from a retail sales tax exemption should be done away with or kept.