Voter turnout in south Lake Whatcom fire levy still not enough for approval

PETER JENSEN - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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Voters overwhelmingly approved a levy that provides Whatcom County Fire District No. 18 with 30 percent of its operating budget, but there may not be enough votes cast for the levy to pass.

About 78 percent of voters in the district, which is at the south end of Lake Whatcom, approved the levy, according to updated ballot tallies the Whatcom County Auditor's Office released Wednesday, Nov. 4.

However, only 326 voters had voted on the levy, according to the latest tally, up from 300 in Tuesday's tally.

The levy needs a voter turnout of 368 people to pass because that is 40 percent of the district's turnout in last fall's election, according to the Auditor's Office.

The levy rate is 28 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. It provides about $70,000 annually and pays for training, equipment and a part-time salary for its chief, Scott Crowe, to be on call during weekday working hours.