Twisp Voters Overwhelmingly Renew EMS Levy, Approve Transportation Tax

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By 3.5 to 1 ratio, Twisp town residents resoundingly renewed a property tax to support Aero Methow Rescue Service in a special election held Feb. 10.

The vote only needed a simple majority to pass, but voters approved it by 77.78%.

Only Twisp town residents were eligible to vote on this measure.

The property tax is good for six years. The tax could have been renewed for 10 years, but Aero Methow’s new Executive Director Derek VanMarter told Twisp Town Council he wanted to time the levy renewal with Winthrop’s and Okanogan County’s renewals.

Winthrop and Okanogan County residents renewed their support in 2022. All three taxes will be up for renewal in 2032.

The revenue from $.50 per $1,000 assessed value, the maximum allowed under state law, can only be used for the provision of emergency medical services, which includes salaries, personnel training, equipment, supplies, vehicles and maintaining the Aero Methow building.

Twisp has had an EMS levy in effect since 1991.

Proposition 2- Transportation Benefit District

By a vote of almost two to one, Twisp town residents also approved a sales and use tax to support transportation improvements, including roads, sidewalks and transit services.

Dubbed the Transportation Benefit District (TBD), Twisp town residents approved the .3% tax by 65.76%. It only needed a simple majority. The tax is a .1% increase from the previous 10 years.

Non-Twisp residents are subject to this tax if they engage in commerce within town limits.

Twisp Public Works Director Andrew Denham told Twisp Town Council that grant funders favor towns with a TBD tax. In the last 10 years, Twisp received $5 million in federal and state funding while raising $800,000 from the tax.

Twisp projects to raise $1.8 million from the TBD tax, which will expire and likely come before the voters again in 2036. Planned improvements include expanded parking downtown, converting gravel streets to pavement, and preserving streets that were improved by the previous 10 year TBD authorization.