Behind by just 19 votes, the levy lid lift request from Fire District 5 in Napavine was the only Lewis County fire or EMS measure failing in preliminary primary election results Tuesday night.
In Chehalis, a measure to bring the fire department’s EMS levy back up to 50 cents per $1,000 assessed property value was overwhelmingly passing Tuesday night with 77.68% approval.. A total of 1,026 ballots have so far been tallied.
A similar levy rate proposed by the Toledo Fire Department was also approved, with 85.71% of the 1,036 ballots coming back in favor of the tax.
A single-year permanent levy lift to 73 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value for fire protection and EMS in Winlock was passing with 57.57%, and an Onalaska levy lift to 75 cents per $1,000 assessed to pay for increased demand was also passing with 54.9% approval.
A measure from Lewis County Fire District 5, in Napavine, was failing Tuesday night with 50.6% disapproval and 1,593 ballots tallied. The department, which covers 65 square miles in and around Napavine, is hoping voters will pass a 66-cent increase to raise the levy rate up to $1.28 of $1,000 assessed property.
If passed, the property tax increase would go into effect next year, expire in 2027 and pay for department operations, staffing, equipment and facility maintenance.
Residents in south Thurston County saw two local fire and EMS measures passing election night.
South Thurston Fire and EMS’ attempt at passing a $5.77 million bond to construct a new headquarters was passing with 60.72% approval and 891 votes tallied. Thurston County Medic One’s levy lift of 21 cents per $1,000 assessed value over six years was also passing with 63.33% voter approval.
Results from the Aug. 3 election will be certified by the Lewis County Auditor on Tuesday, Aug. 17. The Washington Secretary of State will then certify the election Friday, Aug. 20.
The next tally of election results will come 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Lewis County Elections says.
Voter turnout in Lewis County stood at 24.06% on election night.
