North Mason putting school support levy on November ballot
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The North Mason School District is putting a four-year educational programs and support levy back on the ballot for November’s general election. School board members unanimously voted to approve putting the measure before voters on May 20.
The proposed levy would replace one that expired at the end of 2020. School support levies supplement the state s basic education allotment to operate and maintain schools.
Two previous attempts by NMSD to pass the levy failed: first in February of 2020 and again in April of 2020. The no vote resulted in the district trimming its 2020-21 budget by roughly $4 million and the elimination of roughly 18 teaching positions. Without a levy, NMSD is also unable to collect state trust land funding commonly referred to as timber tax available to school districts in Washington.
Updated Mason County fire code raises the threshold for requiring multiple access roads
With new residential developments on the horizon in Belfair and Mason County, changes to the development code will raise the number of homes in a subdivision that triggers the requirement for multiple access points into a neighborhood.
The changes mean that the size of a subdivision that requires two main access roads goes from 100 to 200, said Kell Rowen, Mason County community development administrator.
Rowen said Mason County decided the 100-home cap was restrictive and felt comfortable keeping the cap at 200.
County officials say the recently passed changes will bring the county up to date with state and national code, and the region s fire chief says he s on board with the changes.