Lacey fire levy trailing; Olympia measure passing

District 3 officials say they might try again in November

By Christian Hill and Matt Batcheldor | The Olympian • Published August 20, 2008

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The results of Tuesday's voting mean Olympia is closer to building a new fire station, and Lacey is in jeopardy of losing one.

A measure to raise Olympia property taxes to build a fourth station and training center and buy fire equipment was ahead in election returns Tuesday night, 68.1 percent to 31.8 percent, well ahead of the 60 percent supermajority needed to win.

But in Lacey Fire District 3, a tax measure fire district officials said would stave off layoffs of some firefighters and the likely closure of one of its fire stations next year was losing.

The levy was trailing by about 300 votes, with 51.9 percent voting against and 48.1 percent for.

Olympia has 27,102 registered voters; the Lacey fire district has more than 24,000. Thurston County Elections Supervisor Steve Homan expects about 20,000 more ballots to be counted, the majority by Friday.

Turnout countywide Tuesday was 29.6 percent, with 41,418 ballots cast out of 139,941 registered voters.

Skip Houser, a Lacey fire commissioner, said the district is "hopeful and optimistic" about future election returns.

"We need to provide the service levels to the citizens in our district that they deserve and they expect," he said. "We're committed to this levy-lid lift, and if it doesn't pass, we'll run it again" in the Nov. 4 general election.

Commissioners will discuss whether to ask for a lower levy rate in that scenario, Houser said. Commissioners will meet Thursday.

The city of Lacey contracts with the district for firefighting and basic emergency medical response services. Only voters living in the district but outside of the city limits could vote on the request.

The city has rejected the district's request to pay more money and said the district is a victim of its own poor decision-making. The city will explore alternatives, including creation of its own fire department or contracting with another fire district or private company.

The request would have increased the levy rate from $1.04 per $1,000 of assessed value to $1.50, the maximum under state law. That would have cost the owner of a $250,000 home $115 more each year. The measure requires a simple majority to pass.

Houser and Lacey Mayor Graeme Sackrison said they don't think the election sends any message in terms of whether voters side with the city or district in the ongoing dispute.

"I would love to see this issue resolved with them," Sackrison said. "We've had a long partnership. It would be marvelous to see it rectified."

Uncertainty in Lacey gave way to celebration in Olympia.

"I'm elated," fire Chief Larry Dibble said. "I think that this is going to be a fantastic enhancement to the city's fire and EMS response system."

Added Mayor Doug Mah: "This is definitely positive for the city and, again, it will be a good long-term investment in public safety."

Fire officials said the levy will help cut in half response times, some of which are about 12 minutes.

Residents who own a $250,000 house would pay an extra $53.55 in taxes yearly for 20 years.

The tax would build a fire station on city property at Lilly and Stoll roads and a training center, possibly at a location off Fones Road. The city also would buy fire trucks and other equipment, but the measure would not pay for staffing. The department would reorganize existing staff members.