Voters in Lincoln County turned down tax levies to fund three fire districts in Tuesday’s election.
Less than two dozen votes kept the North Lincoln Fire and Rescue District from winning approval of a levy to retain most of its paid firefighters as well as expand their services. While a handful of ballots remain to be tallied, North Lincoln fire chief Rob Dahlman said he doesn't expect the result to change.
An existing levy doesn’t expire until next year, so the district can try again with voters this fall. Dahlman said the district is facing higher call volumes and needs to plan for even greater demands in the years to come.
“That’s what we have to make sure that the public knows, and that’s what we’re going to work on messaging this next time," he said.
The district covers approximately 80 square miles and includes Lincoln City and the surrounding communities of Otis, Rose Lodge and Kernville.
Two other Lincoln County fire district levies went down by wider margins. One was in the East Lincoln County Fire and Rescue District, and the other was in the Seal Rock Rural Fire Protection District.
