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Fire District 9 levy passing

By Mike Prager mikeprager15@gmail.com(509) 459-5454

Ballots counted Tuesday in a special property tax levy for Fire District No. 9 had the measure passing by more than the required 60 percent majority needed for approval.

The district is seeking a two-year maintenance and operation levy to support its 24-hour, full-time fire and emergency medical services.

“We are grateful for the continued support of the community,” Fire Chief Bob Anderson said Wednesday.

He said late-arriving ballots in the past have followed the trend set by ballots counted on election night. The fire levy was held in conjunction with Washington’s Democratic and Republican presidential primary voting to save money on the district’s share of the election cost.

The levy was passing with 5,488 yes votes to 3,382 no votes for a favorable percentage of 61.87 percent. The number of ballots cast surpassed the minimum required for validation.

“Certainly it’s not a done deal until all of the votes are counted,” Anderson said. “Clearly the trend is on the affirmative side.” Final results are due 15 days after the election.

The levy would raise $4.88 million in 2009 and $5.26 million in 2010 and replace a similar levy that expires at the end of 2008. The funds would be used to pay for 56 full-time firefighters, paramedics and other professional staff who serve the 45,000 residents of the sprawling district north of Spokane city limits.

The levy is expected to cost $1.28 per $1,000 in assessed valuation, or $128 on each $100,000 of property value, about the same as the collection rate for the expiring levy.

In addition, the district collects $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed valuation through its state-authorized regular property tax levy, which does not require voter approval.

In the Tekoa area, school district voters appeared to be approving a two-year maintenance and operation levy of $290,000 a year at a cost to property owners of $5.90 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2009 and 2010. Most of the voters in the district are in Whitman County where Tuesday’s results showed a 70 percent approval rate.