It’s decision time

With a week to go until the General Election, candidates, as well as supporters of the wide variety of levies and propositions are beginning the final push.

Newspapers are filled with political ads, touting the strengths of each candidate and issue. Opinion pages have seen a surge in letters to the editor. Groups of supporters have gathered on street corners, waving signs in favor of their chosen candidate.

As of press deadlines, 41,000 of the 250,000 ballots that were mailed have been returned to the Clark County Elections Office. For those who haven’t yet filled out their ballots, it’s coming down to crunch time.

And the decisions that must be made by local residents have the potential to have financial impacts.

In the Camas-Washougal area alone, residents have the opportunity to decide on four tax levy issues:

o The City of Washougal voters will cast their ballots on Propositions 5 and 6. Each would add 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation to the city’s current regular tax levy. Funding from Proposition 5 will go to fire, paramedic and other emergency medical services. Proposition 6 supports public safety services.

o Mt. Pleasant has its own levy proposal that if approved would support its kindergarten through seventh-grade school at a rate of $3.81 per $1,000 for two years.

o East County Fire and Rescue is seeking a renewal of its EMS levy, which has been in place for the past six years. At a cost of 35 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, money from this levy is funneled through ECFR directly to the Camas-Washougal Fire Department for paramedic services.

Information about all of these issues can be found on the Camas-Washougal Post-Record’s website.

With this and other resources available to voters, there is no reason to be informed or unengaged.