South Lake Whatcom fire levy might fail from lack of ballots cast

PETER JENSEN - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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Voters were overwhelmingly approving a levy that provides Whatcom County Fire District No. 18 with 30 percent of its operating budget, according to early returns from the Whatcom County Auditor's Office.

But the levy still might fail because enough ballots may not have been cast on the measure.

With 300 votes counted, about 77 percent of voters in the district, which is at the south end of Lake Whatcom, voted to approve the levy's renewal.

To pass, the levy needs at least 368 residents to vote, which is 40 percent of the district's turnout in last fall's election. It also needs at least 60 percent approval.

The levy rate is 28 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. For a house assessed at $250,000, that means an annual tax of $70.

The district takes in about $70,000 annually from the levy, which pays for training, equipment and a part-time salary for its chief, Scott Crowe, to be on call during weekday working hours.