Benton voters send strong message on spending more for firefighters, medical service

Benton County Fire District 1’s attempt to cover the rising costs of fire and medical service south of Kennewick and Richland passed during the Aug. 5 primary election.

Election results from the first week show the Benton County Fire District 1’s levy passing with 1,491 votes, or 60%, supporting the measure to 993 votes, or nearly 40%, opposed.

The measure needs over 50% of the votes to pass. More votes were expected to be counted late Friday afternoon.

Benton County Fire District 1 asked voters to approve an increase of 22 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to meet the rising demand for services.

The measure would add about $884,000 to the district’s $6 million budget. The money would pay for three new firefighter positions, replace an aging ambulance and upgrade the Finley fire station. The agency is staffed by paid and volunteer firefighters.

The district primarily relies on property taxes to serve the 18,600 living in its 320-square-mile service area south of Kennewick and Richland — including Finley, Badger Canyon and the Rancho Reata area.

The fire district receives no funding from Benton County and, other than property taxes, only gets a small amount of other money, according to budget documents.

The 22-cent levy on the primary brings its rate to the $1.50 per $1,000 of value allowed by the state.

The increase would add about $93 a year to the property taxes on a house valued at $422,500. — the average cost of a home in the district. The total annual tax bill for that home would be about $634.

Prosser City Council

Bill Jenkin and Vance Glasscock lead the three-person race for an open Prosser City Council seat.

The top two vote-getters advance to the Nov. 4 general election.

Jenkin, a former state representative and school board member, had 372 votes, or 58%. Glasscock, a legal assistant and first-time candidate, had 173 votes, or nearly 27%.

Jackie Kimble, a longtime community volunteer, was trailing with 94 votes, or about 15% support.

Connell Mayor

Shelly Harper and Patricia Barrera will square off in November to succeed Lee Barrow as mayor of the North Franklin County city of Connell.

Harper received 168 votes to Barrera’s 111, or 52% to 34%.

The third candidate, Irineo Salas, received 47 votes or 14%.

This story was originally published August 5, 2025 at 8:51 PM.