For each state initiative and local ballot measure, the online Clallam County Voters Guide provides extremely detailed explanations (including sections on “the law as it presently exists” and “the effect of the proposed measure if approved”), fiscal impact statements and charts, arguments for and against, and rebuttals of those arguments. This is the best source of information on every initiative and ballot measure that will appear on the ballot this November, 2018. The Ballotpedia links below, while helpful, are not as authoritative or complete as the descriptions given in the Voters Guide.

State Initiatives

• I-1631, Clean Air, Clean Energy Our Endorsement: Vote YES  Initiative failed.
  • • Summary: This measure would charge pollution fees on sources of greenhouse gas pollutants and use the revenue to reduce pollution, promote clean energy, and address climate impacts, under oversight of a public board.
    • Online campaign sites:  Website ¦ Facebook.
    • Ballotpedia description
• I-1634, Taxation of Groceries [primarily sugary beverages] Our Endorsement: Vote NO  Initiative succeeded.
  • Summary: This measure would prohibit new or increased local taxes, fees, or assessments on raw or processed foods or beverages (with exceptions), or ingredients thereof, unless effective by January 15, 2018, or generally applicable.
  • Online campaign sites:  Website ¦ Facebook
  • Ballotpedia description

• I-1639, Concerns Firearms Our Endorsement: Vote YES  Initiative succeeded.
  • Summary: This measure would require increased background checks, training, age limitations, and waiting periods for sales or delivery of semiautomatic assault rifles; criminalize noncompliant storage upon unauthorized use; allow fees; and enact other provisions.
  • Online campaign sites:  Website ¦ Facebook
  • Ballotpedia description

• I-940, Initiative to the Legislature, Concerns Law Enforcement Our Endorsement: Vote YES  Initiative succeeded.
  • Summary: This measure would require law enforcement to receive violence de-escalation, mental-health, and first-aid training, and provide first-aid; and change standards for use of deadly force, adding a “good faith” standard and independent investigation.
  • Online campaign sites:  Website ¦ Background on the initiative from the Seattle Times
  • Ballotpedia description

• Advisory Vote No. 19, Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6269 (non-binding) Our Endorsement: Vote MAINTAIN  Advisory vote was repealed.
  • Summary: The legislature expanded, without a vote of the people, the oil spill response and administration taxes to crude oil or petroleum products received by pipeline, costing $13,000,000 over ten years for government spending.
  • What is an advisory question?:  Ballotpedia answer “The outcome of the ballot question will not result in a new, changed or rejected law or constitutional amendment. Rather, the advisory question symbolically makes heard the general opinion of the voting population in regard to the issue at hand.”
  • Ballotpedia description of Advisory Vote No. 19

 

Local Ballot Measures

Vote Yes or No on these measures.

• Clallam County Fire Protection District No. 3, Multiple Year Levy Lid Lift Our Endorsement: Vote YES  Ballot measure succeeded.
  • Text: The Board of Clallam County Fire Protection District No. 3 adopted Resolution No. 2018-04, concerning a proposition to maintain and adequately fund District operations. This proposition authorizes the District to restore its regular property tax levy to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to be levied in 2018 and authorizes annual adjustments by the greater of 1% or the annual CPI-W for Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue as reported in June of the levy year for each of the five succeeding years. The maximum allowable levy in 2023 shall serve as the base for subsequent levy limitations as provided by Chapter 84.55 RCW. Should this proposition be approved?
  • Explanatory Statement:  Clallam County Fire Protection District No. 3 provides emergency fire protection and medical services to its citizens. If approved by the voters, this proposition will authorize the District to restore its regular real property tax levy rate to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2018 for collection in 2019 (the District currently levies at the rate of $1.27) and will establish an annual growth rate based on the greater of one percent or the annual CPI-W for Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue as reported in June of each levy year for following five years. The 2023 levy shall serve as the District’s tax levy base and in 2024, absent further voter approval, increases will be subject to the statutory one percent limit. The District’s Board of Commissioners has determined that this proposition is necessary to maintain an effective level of services, fire fighter staffing, equipment and facilities in light of rising costs.
  • Argument For: Fourteen years ago, the voters overwhelmingly approved a levy lift to a rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Because of a peculiarity of Washington law, this rate has since declined to about $1.26. The proposed levy lift would restore the rate to $1.50 in 2019. This basically just represents an adjustment for 14 years of inflation, and amounts to an approximate increase of about $60 per year for a home with an assessed valuation of $250,000. Call volumes have increased 33 percent in the past seven years and tripled in the past 20 years. That is primarily due to calls for emergency medical service because the median age of our community is 59. More calls mean added costs for personnel, supplies, fuel and the like. The levy rate of $1.50 is expected to decline in future years. To slow the need for a future levy lift back to $1.50, this proposal has wording to slow the gap between inflating costs and the annual 1% statutory increase for the fire service. The maximum levy rate can never exceed the $1.50 level, regardless of the inflation rate.
  • Argument Against: No information submitted.

• City of Sequim, Renewal of Sales and Use Tax Levy for Transportation Improvement Program Our Endorsement: Vote YES  Ballot measure succeeded.
  • Text: The Sequim City Council, as the governing Board of the Transportation Benefit District of the City of Sequim, Washington, adopted Resolution No. 2018-03 concerning a sales and use tax to finance transportation improvements. This proposition would authorize the renewal and continued imposition of a sales and use tax of two-tenths of one percent (0.2%) to be collected within the District in accordance with RCW 82.14.0455 for a term of ten years for the purpose of paying or financing a portion of the costs of transportation improvement projects identified in the City of Sequim Transportation Improvement Program, sidewalk and street repair and improvements, and model connectivity projects. Should this proposition be renewed?
  • Explanatory Statement:  The Sequim City Council formed the Transportation Benefit District and Sequim citizens passed a measure that increased the city’s sales tax by two-tenths of one percent (0.2%), which became effective April 2010. In accordance with state law, these sales tax revenues may only be spent on transportation improvements as approved by the Sequim City Council. This tax is paid by everyone, residents and non-residents alike, who make taxable purchases within the City. This tax increase is valid only for 10 years before it must be renewed by the voters; State law allows only one renewal, which cannot exceed 10 years. This measure is for a renewal. If approved by the voters, the Transportation Benefit District tax would be renewed for 10 years. This measure retains the current two-tenths of one percent (0.2%) sales tax imposed upon all taxable goods purchased within the city limits for transportation improvements.
  • Argument For: In 2009, the citizens of Sequim voted to establish our Transportation Benefit District (TBD) for a 10-year period. It is funded by 2/10th of 1% sales tax. Estimates indicate that two thirds of that money is from taxpayers outside the city limits. Since 2010, 29% of all street and traffic safety projects have been funded by TBD funds. The City collects an average of $600,000 per year to rehabilitate streets, build sidewalks and fund traffic safety projects. A few of the TBD-funded projects include the North 7th Avenue rehabilitation, Washington St. ADA sidewalk ramps, LED street lighting, which has saved 70% on the city’s street lighting electrical usage, and numerous street preservation and rehabilitation projects throughout the city. In the next few years, TBD funds will pay for a portion of major improvements to W. Fir Street near our schools. This is not a tax increase. It is a renewal of our current 10-year TBD, which has been a great benefit to everyone. And this tax does not apply to groceries, prescription medicine, gasoline, mortgages, rent, or insurance. Everyone benefits from our Transportation Benefit District. Vote “Yes” to renew our TBD in Sequim.
  • Argument Against: No information submitted.

 

Sequim Library

For either of the following measures to pass regarding the construction of a new public library in Sequim, voters must vote “Yes” on both.

• Establishment of the Sequim Library Capital Facility Area Our Endorsement: Vote YES  Ballot measure succeeded.
  • Text: The Clallam County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 69, concerning the establishment of the Sequim Library Capital Facility Area. If this proposition is approved, then the Sequim Library Capital Facility Area will have boundaries coextensive with the Clallam County Park and Recreation District No. 1; and it will have all the powers provided in chapter 27.15 RCW, including the power to construct, acquire, maintain and remodel library capital facilities. Shall this proposition be approved?
  • Explanatory Statement:  A vote for Proposition No. 1 will establish the Sequim Library Capital Facility Area. State law allows the formation of a library capital facility area by a vote of the people. The purpose of a library capital facility area is to finance library capital facilities. The governing body of the Sequim Library Capital Facility Area will be the Clallam County Board of Commissioners. The proposed library capital facility area boundaries are coextensive with the boundaries of Clallam County Park and Recreation District No. 1.
  • Argument For: Please vote yes on Propositions 1 and 2 for a new Sequim Branch Library. Your “Yes” vote on Proposition 1 creates the Sequim Library Capital Facility Area tax district. The boundaries of the district encompass the area of Clallam County served by the Sequim Branch Library, extending from the county line on the east to Blue Mountain Road on the west. Your “Yes” vote on Proposition 2 finances the project by approving bonds and tax levies. For a new Sequim Branch Library, vote “Yes” on both measures. The North Olympic Library System (NOLS) does an amazing job delivering modern library service to the growing community of almost 30,000, from the cramped and dated Sequim Branch, built in 1983 to serve a population of 14,000. But any way you look at it, the branch is simply too small. Our new, fully-furnished, 17,000 sq. ft., 21st century library will be better able to support the needs and interests of our growing community, from the youngest to the oldest, now and for decades in the future. NOLS designed the library the community said it wants and deserves, with more room for: technology, collections, seating, parking, displays, meeting rooms, study rooms, separate areas for active and quiet activities, and ADA access. Functional layout and modern infrastructure mean greater comfort for users and more efficient use of Library operating budgets. Libraries build stronger communities. Let’s work together to build a stronger library. Vote “Yes” on Propositions 1 and 2.
  • Argument Against: No information submitted.

• Financing a New Library in the Sequim Library Capital Facility Area Our Endorsement: Vote YES  Ballot measure failed (needed 60% super-majority, received 58.5% of the vote).
  • Text: The Clallam County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 70, concerning a proposition to finance a new and expanded library. This proposition, if approved, will authorize the Sequim Library Capital Facility Area to construct, furnish and equip a new library in Sequim; to incur indebtedness to finance such improvements through the issuance of up to $12,400,000 in general obligation bonds maturing within 21 years; and to levy annual excess property taxes to repay such bonds. Shall this proposition be approved?
  • Explanatory Statement:  A vote for Proposition No. 2 will authorize the Sequim Library Capital Facility Area to borrow up to $12,400,000 and to issue and sell general obligation bonds with a maximum term of twenty-one (21) years to construct, furnish and equip a new library in Sequim, Washington; and to impose annual excess property tax levies to pay principal and interest of such bonds. The bond proceeds will be used to pay the capital costs of the project, including design and construction of the facility; demolition and other site preparation; planning, financial, legal, relocation and other necessary services; and furnishing and equipping the facility, including the cost of the collection of books and other library materials. The library capital facility area will levy annual excess property taxes to pay the bond indebtedness.
  • Argument For: Please vote yes on Propositions 1 and 2 for a new Sequim Branch Library. Your “Yes” vote on Proposition 1 creates the Sequim Library Capital Facility Area tax district. Your “Yes” vote on Proposition 2 finances the project by approving bonds and tax levies. For a new Sequim Branch Library, vote “Yes” on both measures. Libraries build stronger communities. North Olympic Library staff heroically deliver modern library service in the cramped and dated Sequim Branch, but the branch is simply not big enough to meet the wants and needs of the growing community. NOLS engaged the community to plan a 21st century library, designed and built to be sustainable, operationally efficient, and adaptable for decades into the future. This library can be built for approximately $13,400,000. Project funding includes $1,000,000 from Library reserves, and $12,400,000 of voter approved bonds. This investment in our community will cost less than $5/month for owners of properties with an assessed value of $250,000. Where else can you support, and access: education, literacy, understanding, imagination, music , community connections, social and civic engagement, technology, art, culture, STEM learning, job skills training, business support, and so much more, for only $5 per month? NOLS has an established track record of public/private partnerships, election-promise follow through, sound fiscal management practices, and responsible maintenance of capital infrastructure. This is the opportunity to build the Sequim Branch Library that the community wants and deserves. Vote “Yes” on Propositions 1 and 2.
  • Argument Against: No information submitted.