THE VOTERS IN OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON, SHOWED THAT public safety is important to them on Tuesday when 56% of them approved a ballot measure to hire 13 more firefighters. Two years ago they approved a $16.5 million tax increase to build another fire station and a new training center. At the time the city’s finances were strong enough to pay for staffing the new firehouse, but with the decline in propery values recently the city’s tax revenues declined.
This new proposal was for 25¢ increase in property taxes to pay for the increase in alloted strength. The fire department says that the new station is necessary to reduce response times, which are now as high as 11 minutes, down to six minutes, 90 percent of the time.
The Olympian has the STORY.
Hat tip: Larry D.
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