PORT ANGELES — Voters in two Peninsula counties have passed the Clallam County Fire District 3 levy lid lift.
The measure, which would restore the fire district’s regular tax levy to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value, was passing by a margin of 64 percent to 36 percent after Wednesday’s ballot count.
The district, based in Carlsborg, covers the Sequim area in addition to a small portion in Jefferson County.
In Clallam County, 5,530 people voted yes while 3,092 voted no. In Jefferson County, the measure was passing with 106 yes votes and 44 no votes.
“I’m pleased and relieved,” said Jeff Nicholas, president of the Clallam County Fire District 3 board. “Inflation has taken a pretty good whack at a lot of what the fire district has to buy, and this will help us recover a bit of that. We’re real happy about it.”
The district’s current regular levy valuation is $1.11 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Fire district staff said increasing the levy amount by $0.39 would cost a homeowner with a home assessed at $470,000 about $15.28 more than what they pay now per month, or about $183.36 more each year.
If approved, collection will begin in 2026.
“It’s going to allow us to maintain service levels and staffing levels and what we have,” Nicholas said.
Other updated vote counts in Clallam County are:
Hospital District 2 Commissioner, Position 7: Penney Sanders, 6,359 votes (55.03 percent); Laurie Force, 3,777 (32.69 percent); Mic Sager, 1,313 (11.36 percent).
Port Angeles City Council, Position 1: LaTrisha Suggs, 1,304 (51.58 percent); James Taylor, 777 (30.74 percent); Gilbert Hall, 442 (17.48 percent).
Port Angeles City Council, Position 4: Kate Dexter, 1,542 (61.09 percent); Marolee “Mimi” Smith Dvorak, 673 (26.66 percent); Ralph Davisson, 296 (11.73 percent).
Port Angeles School District Director, Position 1: Sarah Methner, 1,841 (43.84 percent); Ned Hammar, 1,374 (32.72 percent); Kim Butler, 510 (12.15 percent); Ruth Replogle, 455 (10.84 percent).
In Jefferson County, Thursday’s ballot count was 2,049 for Fred Obee, or 72.51 percent, and 650 for Dylan Quarles, or 23 percent. A third candidate, Mikki Porter, received 127 votes, or 4.49 percent.
The election will be certified Aug. 19.
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Reporter Emily Hanson can be reached by email at emily.hanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
