Three fire districts in Lewis County and one in Thurston County were passing measures, while another in Thurston County was failing, as of preliminary primary election results released at 8:06 p.m. Tuesday night.
The next tally is expected to be released at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5.
Lewis County Measures:
Lewis County Fire District 15
Proposition No. 1: Emergency Services Levy
Lewis County Fire District 15, servicing the Winlock area, is close to passing a six-year continuation levy for its emergency medical services (EMS) property tax.
As of Tuesday, 71.05%, or 859 people, had voted yes on the measure, out of 1,209.
A simple majority of 50% plus one vote is required to pass the measure.
The proposition requests a levy rate of $0.45 per $1,000 of assessed property value, to be collected for six years, beginning in 2027.
According to the district, the levy continuation will allow the district to keep current EMS staffing numbers, along with the level of services it now provides to residents.
The current EMS levy is set to expire Dec. 31, 2026. Passed in 2020, the EMS levy approved a tax rate of $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
According to the district, the current tax rate is about $0.36 per $1,000, due to Washington state’s 1% limit on property tax increases. Rising property values also affect this rate.
Lewis County Fire District 8
Proposition No. 1: Property Tax Levy for Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services
Lewis County Fire District 8, servicing Salkum, Cinebar, Silver Creek and surrounding areas, is close to passing a levy lid lift for fire protection and EMS services that would restore the district’s existing property tax to $0.88 per $1,000 of assessed value.
As of Tuesday, 62.8%, or 677 people, had voted yes on the measure, out of 1,078.
A simple majority of 50% plus one vote is required to pass the measure.
According to the measure’s text, the proposition would also “authorize annual adjustments for the nine succeeding years based on the greater of one percent or the 12-month West Region CPI-U reported in June of each levy year.”
According to the district, the establishment of the annual growth factor will allow the district to account for the costs of inflation.
The current levy taxes residents at a rate $0.42 per $1,000 of assessed value, due to
Washington state’s 1% limit on property tax increases, according to the district.
A yes vote would restore the levy back to its 2016 rate of $0.88 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Lewis County Fire District 3
Proposition No. 1: Restore EMS Property Tax Levy
Lewis County Fire District 3, servicing the Mossyrock area, is close to passing a levy lid lift for EMS services that would restore the district’s existing property tax to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value, to be collected in 2027.
As of Tuesday, 67.69%, or 419 people, had voted yes on the measure, out of 619.
A simple majority of 50% plus one vote is required to pass the measure.
“The funds will maintain and improve emergency medical services,” the measure’s text says. “The maximum allowable levy in 2026 shall serve as the base for computing subsequent levy limitations as provided by chapter 84.55 RCW.”
In 2020, voters authorized the district to tax at a rate of $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.
The current EMS levy taxes residents at about $0.31 per $1,000 of assessed value, due to the state’s 1% limit on property tax increases, district officials said.
According to the district, 2026 is the last year residents will have to pay taxes for the district’s unlimited tax general obligation (UTGO) bond.
“The fire levy funds will help us improve emergency services in several important ways,” the district’s website says. “Our goal is to reduce response times by increasing staffing, replacing outdated fire trucks (some over 40 years old), updating expired firefighting gear, and maintaining strong insurance ratings for the community.”
Thurston County Measures:
West Thurston Regional Fire Authority
The West Thurston Regional Fire Authority is failing its maintenance and operations levy in its two service districts, Rochester and Littlerock, as of election night.
For the levy to pass, the two separate ballot measures each need to garner 60% approval.
Proposition No. 1: Property Tax for Fire Maintenance and Operations (Rochester)
As of Tuesday, 51.6%, or 679 people, had voted yes on the Rochester measure, while 48.4%, or 637 people, had voted no.
Proposition No. 1: Property Tax for Fire Maintenance and Operations (Littlerock)
As of Tuesday, 59.16%, or 646 people, had voted yes on the Littlerock measure, while 40.84%, or 446 people, had voted no.
The levy, if passed, would allow West Thurston to levy $0.38 per $1,000 of assessed property value for four years to maintain the fire districts’ current level of emergency services.
“Our main goal with this levy is to support our vehicle purchases and maintenance of our facilities that is not supported by our standard budget,” West Thurston Fire Chief Nathan Drake said in a video posted to West Thurston Fire’s Facebook page on July 21.
Southeast Thurston Fire Authority
Proposition No. 1: Bonds to Improve Fire Stations and Acquire Apparatus
The Southeast Thurston Fire Authority is passing its bond proposal, as of election night.
As of 8:06 p.m., 70.41%, or 1,511 people, had voted yes on the measure, while 29.59%, or 635 people, had voted no.
The measure needs 60% approval to pass.
The fire authority is seeking a $21.01 million bond to renovate and improve the Yelm, Lake Lawrence, Rainier and McIntosh Ridge fire stations, and to acquire additional firefighting and emergency response apparatus.
Voting turnout
As of Tuesday night, a total of 15,984 voters have cast ballots in Lewis County, 27% of the 59,806 registered voters.
A total of 31,701 voters have cast ballots in Thurston County, 15% of the 215,385 registered voters.
