JOYCE — Voters in the Joyce area had approved by 58.8 percent on Tuesday a nearly threefold increase in the levy rate for Clallam County Fire District No. 4 after rejecting it two years ago.
The vote Tuesday was 365 votes for and 257, or 41.32 percent, against the levy lid lift in the special election.
More ballots are expected to be received later in the week in the all-mail election.
They will be counted by 4:30 p.m. Friday.
They are not expected to affect the outcome.
A simple majority was needed for passage.
Of the 1,434 ballots mailed to voters in the Joyce Fire District, 622 — or 43.33 percent — were returned and counted Tuesday.
The all-volunteer fire district attempted to raise the levy above the limit in 2008, but lost by five votes.
Fire district Chairman Ben Pacheco said the difference was increased support from district residents, particularly from Friends of Joyce Fire District.
“That was it right there,” he said.
Pacheco thanked the voters, adding: “They’ve helped maintain a level of excellence in both emergency medical care and fire calls that our community and visitors have come to appreciate.”
The fire district’s property tax levy will increase from 26 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation to 76 cents in 2011.
For the owner of a $200,000 home, that equates to about $152 in taxes each year.
Without approval from voters within the district, the levy could have only been raised 1 percent by state law.
Pacheco has said the levy increase was needed to maintain equipment and continued operation of both of the district’s two stations.
The election will be certified Feb. 24.