On April 10, 2024, the Cowlitz Transit Authority passed a resolution to annex Lexington and Beacon Hill into the Cowlitz Public Transportation Benefit Area, aka the RiverCities Transit service area. This area is currently served by Route 411, a pilot project, including ADA paratransit service.
On August 6, 2024, a ballot measure on the annexation must be confirmed by a majority of the voters in the eight precincts that make up those neighborhoods, as it will raise the sales tax in that area by 3/10ths of 1 percent ($0.003).
The Transit Authority seeks members of the public willing to represent the “for” and “against” committees on the ballot measure. For and against committees will write a statement either in favor or in opposition to the ballot measure. Each committee needs a spokesperson and one to three listed members.
Please see pages 15-19 of the Cowlitz County Elections 2024 Jurisdiction Manual https://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/30641/2024-Jurisdiction-Manual-including-LVP-Specs for the rules and page 24 of the Manual for the submission form, which RiverCities Transit must forward to the Elections Office.
Please contact Jim Seeks, Transit Manager, 360-442-5663 or [email protected] if you wish to be a member of a “for” or “against” committee, or contact Cowlitz County Elections at 360-557-3005 or [email protected] for more information. Deadline is Friday, May 3, 2024.