Key Peninsula voters overwhelmingly approved a levy lid lift for emergency medical services Aug. 5, providing a funding boost to the fire district. Proposition No. 1 passed with 3,417 yes votes versus 1,968 no votes as of Aug. 14 at 10 a.m. That gave the measure 63% support — well above the simple majority required for approval.
The measure restores the EMS levy rate to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value beginning in 2026, the same rate voters originally approved, but state-imposed limits on property tax increases had since reduced that. It also allows the levy to rise by up to 6% annually for five years. After that, the total for the final year will become the new base rate for future EMS funding.
District officials said the renewed funding will help stabilize staffing, reduce reliance on outside agencies, and prevent the kinds of periodic station closures that have impacted service since the start of the year. The measure is expected to generate about $900,000 in additional revenue starting in 2026, enough to help restore normal staffing levels, fill vacancies, and eliminate “brownouts” at the Longbranch station.
“We’re obviously pleased with the support from our community,” said KPFD Chief Nick Swinhart. “I think our district did a nice job of getting the message out about the lid lift and describing how it impacts us.”
In the months leading up to the vote, district leaders warned that without the lid lift, increasing costs for medical supplies and services — combined with a state law capping annual property tax revenue growth at 1% — would have put a strain on KPFD.
Unlike the failed 2024 maintenance and operations levy, which required a 60% supermajority to pass, the EMS lid lift needed only a simple majority.
More information on what the levy funds will support, including staffing and station operations, can be found on KPFD’s website: www.keypeninsulafire.org.
Mullen Leads Commissioner Race
Colleen Marie Mullen leads the race for Fire District 16 Commissioner Position 1 with 1,497 votes, or about 30%. Gretchen Schneider follows with 1,227 votes, trailed by Ed Bressette, Jr. (1,036) and Josh Johnson (1,020).
The top two vote-getters will advance to the November general election. The winning candidate will replace Commissioner Cambria Queen, who announced earlier this year that she is relocating to Texas.
Visiting Commissioner Offers Perspective, Support for Volunteers
During public comment at the July 22 board meeting, West Thurston Fire Commissioner Jeff Merryman made a three-hour round trip from Rochester to speak in support of Key Peninsula’s volunteer firefighters and share a message of encouragement drawn from his district’s own experience.
“I read about what was going on here and thought, ‘That sounds like us back in 2019,’ ” Merryman told the Key Peninsula News, recalling a time when his community faced similar trust issues with its leadership. “We’re still not all the way through it, but we’re on the rebound.”
A self-described advocate for the underdog, Merryman also praised the dedication of volunteer and career personnel, noting that the public doesn’t see a difference when both are trained to the same standards. “Our community loves volunteers. They’re inspiring the next generation,” he said. “Career folks are working hard, and they don’t have time to be their own cheerleaders.”
Merryman encouraged KPFD to continue supporting its volunteers and working toward unity within the fire district: “There might be some hostility now, but it can get better. It got better for us.”
CAP Delivers First Update, Recommends Selling Key Center Properties
The Citizens Advisory Panel delivered its first official report to the board during the July 22 meeting, marking the start of a three-month trial period for monthly updates. Although the presentation was brief, commissioners received a written memo outlining CAP’s initial recommendations.
In the memo, CAP recommended selling the district’s Key Center properties near Olson Drive NW and the Key Peninsula Highway, revising the Capital Facilities Plan, and focusing on long-term planning within current budget constraints. Panel members cited limited site capacity and the significant cost of required water system upgrades, needed to meet state fire flow standards for any future station or training center, as key concerns. Due to receiving the memo at the meeting, commissioners did not respond to the recommendations at that time.
Future CAP reports are expected to include more discussion of community feedback and may allow time for brief Q&A with board members.
Facility Planning Committee Faces Complex Challenges, Possible Calahan Sale
The fire district’s Facility Planning Committee, composed of Commissioners Stan Moffett and Shawn Jensen, continues to evaluate the future of district properties in Key Center, including the 53-year-old Station 46 and the remaining Olson parcels.
The board voted at its Aug. 12 meeting to authorize the committee to negotiate details on a full-price offer received for the Calahan property, at $1,050,000. The deal is contingent upon the buyer receiving permits to operate a convenience store on the site and the disposition of commercial kitchen equipment.
With fluctuating market conditions, questions regarding boundary lines, divided public opinion, and evolving fire code requirements, decisions about what to keep, sell, or build remain complex. While some community members have called for selling all the Key Center properties, district officials caution that a sale is not guaranteed, nor would proceeds from such a sale necessarily be available for staffing or operations.
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