Becca Robbins
The Columbian, Vancouver, Wash.
(TNS)
Aug. 6—Voters approved a slew of bonds and levies for some of Clark County’s rural fire and emergency medical service agencies, according to primary election results released Tuesday.
Residents voted in favor of levy lid lifts for Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue, Clark County Fire District 6, Clark County Fire District 3, Clark County Fire District 13 and East County Fire and Rescue. They also approved excess levies benefiting North Country Emergency Medical Service, while residents of Camas and Washougal approved bonds funding fire station upgrades and new facilities.
The Clark-Cowlitz measure got 61.9 percent approval from residents of north Clark County, Ridgefield, La Center and Woodland. The district’s levy will return to $1.50 per $1,000 in assessed property value. Voters in Cowlitz County voted 59.2 percent in favor of the levy.
Fire Chief John Nohr thanked voters Tuesday night for their continuing support and said the levy lid lift was crucial for the agency’s stability.
“It looks like all the fire service agencies across the county were supported by the voters, and I’m glad to see that because it helps us deliver emergency services and keep the community safe,” Nohr said.
He said the additional tax revenue will help maintain staffing required for a number of emergency situations such as medical calls and rescues. The funding will go toward the purchase of two new fire apparatus to replace aging equipment. Down the line, Nohr said the fire district also plans to fund safety improvements for stations.
The levy for Fire District 3, serving central Clark County including Battle Ground, Brush Prairie and Hockinson, received 65.5 percent approval and also returns the levy rate to $1.50 per $1,000 in assessed value.
Chief Scott Sorenson said the funding was needed to maintain service levels residents rely on. When the revenue is collected, beginning next year, the chief said the agency aims to boost staffing to a minimum of three emergency responders for each unit and to make needed improvements to some stations.
“We want our taxpayers to know we will report back as improvements are made and keep them aware,” Sorenson said. “It’s their fire district, and we answer to them.”
Fire District 6, serving Felida, Hazel Dell and parts of Salmon Creek, also saw its levy boosted to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value after results show 68.9 percent of voters approved the district’s lid lift.
Residents of East County Fire and Rescue’s service area, including those in rural areas north of Camas and Washougal, voted 64.9 percent in favor of returning the agency’s levy to $1.50 per $1,000 in assessed value.
North Country Emergency Medical Services will benefit from excess levies passed by voters in Yacolt, Clark County Emergency Medical Service District 1 and Cowlitz Emergency Medical Service District 1. Residents in each of the jurisdictions agreed to a single-year levy of $1.30 per $1,000 in assessed value for more than $4.3 million in tax revenue.
Chief Bryce Shirley said he’s happy with the Tuesday’s results, and the levies are critical for the agency to continue providing ambulance service.
He said the district has historically had strong support, but he was particularly pleased with the passage of partner Fire District 13’s levy lid lift.
That region’s residents also approved a levy boost to $1.35 per $1,000 in assessed value for Fire District 13. Shirley said the passage means the volunteer fire district can hire three full-time firefighters. For the first time, the agency can have one paid firefighter on staff every day of the week.
Voters in Camas and Washougal approved bonds aimed at funding the construction of a new fire station to replace Fire Station 43 and the renovation of existing fire stations. The Camas bond, in the amount of $26,300,000, included funding for the purchase of a new fire engine; 67.7 percent of voters supported it. The Washougal bond — for $15,725,000 — received 67.7 percent support.
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