MOUNT VERNON, Wash. Voters in parts of Skagit County will decide four local measures in the Nov. 3 general election, affecting residents of Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley, the La Conner School District and Skagit County Fire District 5, goSkagit reported.

The La Conner School District is seeking a four-year facility modernization and technology levy that would allow it to modernize existing buildings, replace and upgrade technology systems, and train staff on the new technology and software. District spokesperson Megan Boyer said the levy would support replacing aging roofs starting with the elementary school and replacing outdated HVAC systems, improvements she said would address aging infrastructure while keeping school facilities safe, functional and reliable.

The levy would collect about $1.5 million from 2027 through 2030, authorizing $350,000 in 2027, $365,000 in 2028, $380,000 in 2029 and $395,000 in 2030. The approximate rate would be 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, costing the owner of a $500,000 property about $150 a year. School Board President Susie Deyo said she and Superintendent Dave Cram have been conservative on tax increases in the community, but that the levy is necessary, and board members said it is more efficient to upgrade aging technology before it stops working.

In Mount Vernon, voters will be asked to reauthorize the city's Transportation Benefit District, which funds road, sidewalk and intersection improvements. Voters approved the district in 2016, and the measure would continue it at the same 0.2% sales and use tax rate for 10 years. According to the \"for\" argument in the Skagit County Voters Pamphlet, the fund has been used to match state and federal grants, turning about $12 million into $27 million for projects such as traffic signals, railroad crossings, sidewalks, roundabouts and pavement work.

Since the fund was established, the city has overlaid about 14 miles of streets, maintained about 13 miles of roads and sidewalks, improved 436 crosswalks and curbs, and upgraded five busy intersections, with the fund bringing in an average of $2.3 million a year. Mayor Peter Donovan said the district ensures that everyone who uses Mount Vernon streets to make purchases in the city also contributes to maintaining them. Planned future projects include improvements on 15th Street, 30th Street and Riverside Drive.

Skagit County Fire District 5, an all-volunteer district serving Allen, Bow, Edison, Samish Island, Chuckanut Drive and surrounding areas, is asking voters to restore its regular property tax levy to 78 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Rising property values have pushed the rate down to 33 cents since the current levy passed, while comparable Skagit County fire districts average about 88 cents, according to a district fact sheet. The measure would also let the district raise annual revenue by 3% in each of the five following years instead of the 1% allowed under state law.

For the owner of a $300,000 home, the proposed increase would cost an additional $133 a year, and for a $500,000 home, an additional $222. The levy is the district's main source of funding, and the \"for\" argument in the voters pamphlet says funding has not kept up with rising costs for fire engines, firefighting and medical equipment, communications, fuel and operating expenses. Supporters also say the levy would protect the area's fire protection classification rating, helping homeowners avoid spikes in insurance premiums.

Finally, Sedro-Woolley voters will decide whether the city should be annexed into the Central Skagit Library District, which includes rural areas of the Sedro-Woolley School District but not those living within city limits. The city currently collects taxes and pays the district each year so residents can access library services; if the measure passes, residents would pay the library district directly and keep receiving services. According to the city's website, a yes vote would ensure permanent access to library services and let city residents vote on library district initiatives, bonds and property tax levies.