VOTER GUIDE 2017
FOR ELECTION ENDING NOVEMBER 7, 2017
PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
25
Jefferson County
Prop 1: Levy to fund affordable housing BY CYDNEY MCFARLAND
found at www.co.jefferson.wa.us. A citizen committee made up PORT TOWNSEND — Propo- of nine volunteers would oversee the fund, review applications for sition 1 on the Nov. 7 ballot asks affordable housing projects and voters to approve a seven-year allocate money to help projects property tax levy to support the leverage more money from state building and maintaining of and federal grants, according to affordable housing in Jefferson the levy proposal from Homes County. Now. The tax of 36 cents per $1,000 Project proposals would have assessed value would go into the to abide by certain standards, housing-specific Home Opportuincluding a guarantee that projnity Fund, which would be a ded- ects would remain affordable icated fund for affordable houshousing for a minimum of 40 ing projects, according to the pro- years. posed ballot measure. The levy is expected to raise The levy needs a simple $1.9 million per year, or $13 milmajority to pass. lion to $13.9 million over its The measure was proposed by seven-year term. Homes Now, a local citizen group, If approved, the tax revenue and approved for the November would be divided up to specifiballot by the Jefferson County cally target low-income and verycommissioners in August after a low income housing projects. public hearing in July. One-third of the tax revenue, The full text of the resolution or 12 cents per $1,000 assessed approved for the ballot and the value, would go toward lowdraft financing plan for the income housing projects and twothirds of revenue, or 24 cents per Home Opportunity Fund can be
Proposition No. 1
PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners passed Resolution No. 35-17 declaring an Emergency in Jefferson County in the availability of affordable housing for low- or very low-income households, and referring the following ballot proposition to the voters: Proposed: Establish a fund providing affordable housing for low- or very low-income households including disabled people, veterans, seniors, and families with children, by increasing the County’s regular property tax levy up to $0.12/$1,000 for low-income housing (for a maximum rate of $1.80/$1,000 assessed value collected in 2018); and authorize a separate levy under RCW 84.52.105 of approximately $0.24/$1,000 to generate $1,200,000 in 2018; each levy for seven years and subject to limitations under RCW 84.55. Should this proposition be: Approved Rejected $1,000 assessed value, would fund very low-income housing projects. Residents who qualify as lowincome make 80 percent or less of the local median income, and residents making 50 percent or less of the local median income
Quilcene Fire District/continued With changing demographics — including the mix of year-round residents and vacation homeowners (especially in more remote areas such as the Toandos Peninsula) — we must continue to improve response capabilities through modernization. How would you be a more effective fire commissioner than your opponent? Frank: As a career first responder with over 37 years’ experience, I have
been on the front lines of emergency service and first-level response. As an active volunteer for almost three years with Fire District 2, I have a clear understanding of the day-to-day operation and capabilities of our department. As an appointed fire commissioner, I have developed knowledge of the administrative functions of a small, rural fire district, including funding requirements and personnel management issues.
qualify as very low-income, according to Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The median income in Jefferson County is $47,202 per year, according to the 2014 U.S. census.
Based off that data, in Jefferson a single person making $36,050 per year or less would qualify as low-income and a person making $22,550 per year would qualify as very low-income by HUD standards. The levy would raise property taxes over the 1 percent cap set by the state. In August, the Jefferson County commissioners declared a state of emergency in the availability of affordable housing for low-income and very low-income residents of Jefferson County, which allowed the levy to be put on the November ballot. That declaration was based in part by a HUD study that found that roughly half — 1,680 out of 3,425 of all renters in Jefferson County — are paying more than 30 percent of their income for housing. About one in four renters are paying more than 50 percent of their income to housing costs. PLEASE
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Discovery Bay Fire District 5
Proposition 1: Property tax levy BY CYDNEY MCFARLAND PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
DISCOVERY BAY — Discovery Bay Volunteer Fire and Rescue is asking voters to approve a property tax levy for maintenance and operations on the Nov. 7 ballot. The levy for Jefferson County Fire District 5, which is not to exceed $1.50 per $1,000 assessed value, would be levied in 2017 and collected in 2018, and would serve as a baseline for computing subsequent levy limitations.
The ballot measure, which was approved by Fire District 5 commissioners in July, needs a simple majority — 50 percent plus one — to pass. Fire District 5 is roughly 75 square miles. It serves just over 500 full-time residents and roughly 350 registered voters. The district extends from milepost 276.2 on U.S. Highway 101 east of Gardiner to milepost 286 at Snow Creek Ranch Road, south of Discovery Bay.
Boundaries of the district include state Highway 104 from Highway 101 to milepost 4 just west of Center Valley Road, and state Highway 20 from Anderson Lake Road to Eaglemount Road, according to the District 5 website at www.dbvfr.org. District 5 has two stations: one at 12 Bentley Place in Port Townsend, which was created by a bond approved by voters in 2016, and a secondary station at 2000 Old Gardiner Road, which is unstaffed. PLEASE
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