Wahluke capital levy, Fire District 10 commission change on Feb. 9 ballot

by CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Staff Writer | February 3, 2021 1:00 AM

MATTAWA — Voters in the Wahluke School District will decide the fate of a capital levy, and voters in Grant County Fire District 10 will have a chance to vote on a proposed change in the number of district commissioners, in a special election Feb. 9.

Wahluke School District voters will have their say on a three-year, $4.5 million levy to fund repairs and improvements to district buildings. If the levy is approved, $1.5 million would be collected each year. Property owners would pay an estimated $1.90 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2022, or $380 for the owner of property assessed at $200,000.

In 2023, property owners would pay an estimated $1.86 per $1,000 of assessed value. For 2023, the owner of property worth $200,000 would pay approximately $372 in property taxes. For 2024, property owners would pay an estimated $1.82 per $1,000 of assessed value. A property owner whose property was assessed at $200,000 would pay an estimated $364 in taxes in 2024.

If the levy is approved, money would be used to upgrade security cameras and entry systems at all district buildings and to update irrigation systems throughout the district.

Some of the money would be used to repair the roof at Saddle Mountain and Mattawa elementary schools; add new scoreboards in the gym at both schools; and upgrade Saddle Mountain’s heating-cooling system and hallway carpet. The parking lot at Wahluke High School would be resurfaced, and the Wahluke Junior High gym would get a new scoreboard.

Fire District 10 voters will decide whether to expand the board from three to five commissioners. The proposal comes after Grant County Fire District 10 merged with Grant County Fire District 11 in April 2020.

Each district had three commissioners, all of whom are serving now, and the board must have an odd number of commissioners.

All seats on a fire district commission are at-large, meaning any qualified person living in the district is eligible. Dedra Osborn, elections administrator in the Grant County Auditor’s Office, said it will be up to the commissioners to determine how the commission is readjusted from six to five members, if the proposal is approved.