PORT TOWNSEND — Voters in East Jefferson Fire District and the Brinnon Fire Department approved proposals in Tuesday’s special election that will allow them to lift the lid on levy limits for general fire protection and emergency medical services.
The results will mean the combined general fire and emergency medical services taxes in EJFR will increase from $1.21 to $1.80 per $1,000 assessed property value, and those in Brinnon will increase from $1.30 to $2 per assessed $1,000 property value.
“I think it’s indicative of the community’s support and direction that they want for better fire and EMS services,” EJFR Chief Bret Black said.
Brinnon Fire Chief Tim Manly said he attributed the success of the levies to fire department personnel and the faith the community had in them.
“I’m going to a put it squarely on the people who are working here,” Manly said. “They are dedicated firefighters and EMTs who go out there and do the job and they do it well, and they just make us all very proud. I think our credibility speaks for itself.”
In EJFR (Jefferson County Fire Protection District 1), 69.05 percent of voters approved raising the general fire levy from 85 cents to $1.30 per $1,000 of property value, and 73.81 percent approved raising the EMS levy from 36 cents to 50 cents per $1,000 of property value.
In Brinnon (Jefferson County Fire Protection District 4), 53.28 percent approved raising the general fire district levy from 94 cents to $1.50 per $1,000 of property value, and 62.23 percent approved raising the EMS levy from 36 cents to 50 cents per $1,000 of property value.
Voter turnout was 41.79 percent across the two districts. The four measures were the only ones on the ballot and needed a simple majority to pass. No measures were on a special election ballot for Clallam County.
The next ballot count was scheduled on Tuesday for 4 p.m. Wednesday, but no count was done.
A Jefferson County Auditor’s Office official said dates and times for counting ballots are subject to change, and said the office received a large number of ballots in the mail on Wednesday.
The latest ballot count can be found on the Jefferson County auditor’s website at https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/1266/Elections. The auditor will certify the results on Feb. 24.
While welcome, the election results do not mean an influx of funds after the levy goes into effect starting in April, when the county starts collecting property taxes. Those funds will be available to the fire districts sometime in 2024.
Manly said the district had originally planned for a levy lid lift in 2024 with the expectation of collecting the funds in 2025, but it moved the date up a year because inflation was on pace to potentially force its budget into the red.
Tuesday’s election results will give the district some breathing room, he said, but it will not change the way it runs its programs.
“As of right now, we are going to continue to operate as we did yesterday and tomorrow,” Manly said. “Then for 2024, we will be able to continue to do the same exact thing, and our programs will continue to run as they did yesterday.”
Approval of the levies will not solve EJFR’s straitened finances this year or fix the more than $2 million budget shortfall despite severe cuts.
“We aren’t just sitting back in our chairs and taking a big breath,” Black said. “We’re actually sharpening our pencils and, after some direction from the board, we’re going to move forward. It’s going to really take a lot more work.”
Nevertheless, EJFR commissioner and chair David Seabrook said the district could breathe a little bit easier and engage in long-term planning, knowing that funds for long-delayed maintenance, equipment purchases and rebuilding its reserves are on the distant horizon.
“We’re thrilled about the results and so appreciative of the support that we have from the community,” Seabrook said. “We’re going to maintain the improvements to fire and emergency medical service that we’ve implemented over the last one to two years and not have to continue to erode our reserve fund to make that happen.”
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached at paula.hunt@soundpublishing.com.
