PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Fire District 2 measure to lift the lid on its levy collection was passing Tuesday night in initial ballot returns.
More than 58.6 percent of voters (2,481 votes) were approving the measure while 41.3 percent (1,747 votes) were rejecting it.
A simple majority is required to pass.
The district is aiming to increase its current levy of 96 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to the maximum rate of $1.50 per $1,000, a 54-cent increase that would be a 56 percent hike.
The owner of a $300,000 home within the fire district would see their property taxes increase from $288 to $450 annually.
The levy pays for fire suppression and emergency medical services and accounts for about half of the district’s $2.4 million budget.
In the August primary election, voters rejected the district’s levy lid lift, 56 percent to 47 percent.
The fire district covers 85 square miles from East Beach Road at Lake Crescent east to Deer Park Road, excluding the city of Port Angeles.
