Unlike some issues affecting a specific town or jurisdiction, the upcoming vote on whether to annex Twisp to Okanogan County Fire District 6 also affects most residents of the Methow Valley.
If all goes as expected, the annexation question will be on the Aug. 1 primary election ballot, where it will have the local spotlight ahead of a crowded general election field in November.
It’s not just a matter of whether Twisp’s residents support the annexation, although a majority of voters in the town must approve it. In addition, people living in the fire district also get to weigh in — and they, too, must vote in favor of the proposal for it to take effect.
The last time District 6 residents faced a similar question was in February 2017, when annexation of the Town of Winthrop to the fire district was on the ballot. That measure passed by a wide margin in the town and the district, and the transition of services has gone smoothly since. Winthrop is now the home of District 6’s new fire hall, a long-awaited and necessary upgrade of vital facilities.
For many years, Twisp has contracted with District 6 provide fire protection services, which included use of the town-owned fire station to house equipment and personnel. Currently, the town is paying the district $60,000 a year for fire protection (that agreement will continue through 2023 if the annexation is approved).
Relations between the district and the town have been good in recent years, but that wasn’t always the case. There have in the past been contentious discussions between Twisp and District 6 about the cost of providing service, and other issues. There were suggestions that maybe the town would just have to go without fire protection — unimaginable, in retrospect, particularly considering that Twisp had no way to easily resurrect its own fire department.
District 6 is, annexation or not, the town’s only option. It is the largest fire district in the state, covering 300 square miles of rural terrain from Gold Creek to Lost River with four fire stations, thanks to a mostly volunteer force.
Annexation has been a logical discussion topic for some time, more so after Winthrop opted in. Negotiations between the district and Twisp to reach a pre-annexation agreement — which they did recently — went on for at least a year longer than originally anticipated. Possible election dates in 2022 came and went. But there were some complicated points to settle, such as what would happen to the existing fire station (the district will purchase it from the town if the annexation is approved).
Between now and August, the town and district will, per the pre-annexation agreement, coordinate an information campaign that should answer all of the voters’ questions. That will include public meetings that town and district representatives have committed to scheduling and attending.
Mail-in voting would begin July 14 for the August primary. That’s plenty of time to get acquainted with the details. For more information about the district, visit https://ocfd6.com.
If Twisp residents approve the annexation, property owners will in 2024 begin being assessed the district’s annual tax levy, which is 61 cents per $1,000 of property value this year. At the same time, the town won’t be paying the district the $60,000 for fire protection services.
How that trade-off will work for the town isn’t clear yet. What is clear is that annexation is logical, desirable and timely. Being part of the district — and Twisp remains the only part of the Methow Valley that is not — will assure long-term fire protection and eliminate annual negotiations, which will always have the potential for complications. With the danger from and awareness of wildfire threats increasing in recent years, town residents should enjoy the certainty of swift and effective fire protection.
Another advantage for Twisp residents is that, with annexation, they will be allowed to vote for District 6 board of commissioner candidates or levy proposals, and will themselves be able to run for commission positions. They can’t do any of those things now.
Not even the most sensible ballot proposals are a slam dunk, and voters throughout the valley should certainly do their homework between now and August. They will likely find plenty of justification for annexation, along with a few objections. In our view, the arguments will tilt heavily toward a “yes” vote in both jurisdictions. The Winthrop annexation vote six years ago showed the way for how an information campaign and election process can work. Let’s hope for a repeat this year.
