By Leila Merrill
THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — More than half of West Thurston Regional Fire Authority firefighters may lose their jobs and three of the five fire stations could be closed if voters do not approve a levy in November, Fire Chief Rob Smith told King5 on Monday.
He said that the department has seen call volumes rise 40% from 2013 to 2021 as the population has grown.
Under the levy, taxpayers would be charged an average of $1.60 based on each $1,000 assessed value. The currently rate is an average of 97 cents per $1,000 assessed value.