Grays Harbor Newspaper Group

Grays Harbor County Commissioner Wes Cormier has proposed lowering the county’s share of the road levy, which would allow junior taxing district, such as fire districts to collect money they can’t now collect because of a system that caps the tax.

Cormier said the county’s share should be lowered by 13 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

“In 2013 there was a $750,000 road levy shift that affects the road department, and in 2014 there was a $500,000 road levy shift,” Cormier said at a commission meeting Thursday. “A 13-cent reduction would equate to about $335,000.”

A road levy only can collect so much before it caps countywide. The county can first take funds from the road levy, then the junior taxing districts (fire districts, hospital districts and libraries) can take portions of what remains.

Commissioner Frank Gordon said his biggest concern was ensuring the road fund maintained enough in the budget to cover costs.

“They have to have the cash up front (for two bridge projects) and they’re reimbursed, and I want to make sure we don’t make the road department short. If we do, we won’t be able to do business and we’ll lose (a) grant,” Gordon explained.

Also present at the meeting was Grays Harbor Fire District 5 Chief Dan Prater whose fire district would benefit by about $71,000 if the county reduced its road levy.

Prater noted that the fire district has worked hard to rebound from near-bankruptcy in the past, and while the district has essentially rebounded, it still could use additional revenue.

“I call you guys the top dogs — you get yours and you get to decide, but when you make that, you take everything — anything you don’t take or you can live without we’d appreciate it because we’re down here at the very bottom and we could just use some help,” Prater said.

The commissioners took no action at the meeeting and would address the issue when they adopt a road levy at a future meeting.