JEFFERSON: Quilcene fire levy lid lift heads for approval

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, November 4, 2014

QUILCENE — A levy lid lift for the Quilcene Fire Department appeared headed for passage after the initial count of Tuesday ballots.

The measure to raise the property tax levy by 50 cents had 66.62 percent in favor and 33.38 percent opposed.

The proposition, which needs a simple majority to pass, would raise the current rate of 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Property worth $200,000 is now assessed $150 annually for fire service; the increase would raise that amount to $250 annually, according to the Jefferson County Assessor’s Office.

Chief Larry Karp said that without the increase, the department could not continue its resident firefighter program.

The program consists of two firefighter/emergency medical technicians who are on duty 24 hours daily to respond to emergencies within Quilcene and Coyle.

The measure would generate an additional $160,000 per year for the district.

The levy rate was last increased in 1988.

The department — which has two paid staff members, including Karp, and 25 volunteer firefighters — covers an area of 72 square miles and operates three fire stations.