Fire levies pass in Graham, fail in South Pierce

Graham Fire and Rescue’s levy was approved in the general election, but two levies in the South Pierce Fire and Rescue district went down to defeat.

Unofficial results from voting that ended Tuesday had Graham’s levy passing with a 55 percent yes vote. The measure didn’t propose a new tax, but will continue an existing levy that covers the costs of personnel, training and equipment at an estimated 2018 property tax rate $1.38 per $1,000 of assessed valuation of property in the district.

South Pierce’s levies were short of the simple majority needed for them to pass. Proposition 1, which would have reauthorized previously approved fire protection levy lid of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation on property in the district, received a 55.8 percent vote in opposition to it. Proposition 2, which called for renewing the emergency services funding at a rate of 50 cents per $1,000 of valuation, was rejected by 52.7 percent of the voters.

Supporters of the South Pierce levies emphasized during the campaign that the proposals weren’t for new taxes.