PORT ANGELES — Clallam and Jefferson counties’ voters gave a property tax levy to fund emergency medical services in Clallam County Fire District No. 3 a resounding 69.01 percent approval in Tuesday’s count of general election votes.
The combined total of the two counties for the measure in the fire protection district spanning parts of both counties was 5,669 votes approving the measure, while 30.99 percent, or 2,546, voted against the levy.
The next ballot count is Friday.
District coverage
The district covers just east of Deer Park Road on the outskirts of Port Angeles east to Gardiner in Jefferson County.
Part of Jefferson County became covered by the district in September at the request of area residents.
The area was previously covered by Jefferson County Fire District No. 5, but it is much closer to the new Clallam County District No. 5 station in Blyn.
That station was funded with $1 million from the nearby the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe and about $402,000 from District No. 3 funds.
Citizens requesting to be included in District 3 also cited a lack of volunteers in close proximity on the Jefferson side of the county line.
Because of state law regarding taxing district boundaries, taxes from Gardiner residents will not be collected by the district until 2011.
The district currently has an emergency medical services annual budget of $2.6 million.
Chief Steve Vogel said the current levy raised about $1.25 million per year, resulting in the district dipping into its fire protection budget to make up the difference.
Meanwhile, the property tax levy will increase taxes from the current 27 cents per $1,000 in assessed valuation to 50 cents per $1,000.
On a $300,000 property, that works out to $150 per year in taxes.
The levy will go into effect in January and continue for 10 years.