PORT TOWNSEND — A one-tenth of 1 percent sales-tax increase that would help update equipment for Jefferson County’s emergency services communications system was passing easily Tuesday night.
With 62 percent of precincts tallied, Proposition 1 had 69.4 percent of the vote, or 6,444 in favor and 2,836 opposed.
The measure requires a simple majority for passage.
Proposition 1 will hike the county’s sales tax rate from 8.2 to 8.3 percent, with the money from the increase dedicated to JeffComm for the purchase of an updated radio console used in dispatching emergency medical and law enforcement aid.
Passage of Proposition 1 will net about $150,000 per year for JeffComm to use toward capital improvement and equipment purposes.
Radio repeaters, or transmitters that improve real-time transmissions between dispatchers and responders, are also on the county’s shopping list pending passage of Proposition 1.
Vote of confidence
Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Brasfield said he interpreted the measure’s strong showing as both a vote of confidence among county citizens for their public safety agencies — as well as an acknowledgement that investment in the department is critical.
“I think it was an opportunity for voters to indicate their belief in how important emergency services are,” Brasfield said after Tuesday’s first returns were released.
More importantly, he said, voters didn’t need to be prodded.
