TVF&R measure enjoys enthusiastic 'yes' from voters

Measure 36-191 passing by a more than 2-to-1 margin in preliminary results released Wednesday morning

A measure that would bring Newberg into the Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue district is passing handily after Tuesday's special election.

Preliminary results released by the Yamhill County clerk's office Wednesday morning showed Measure 36-190 passing by a margin of 3,263 votes (69.51 percent) to 1,431 votes (30.49 percent), with nearly 100 percent of the ballots cast.

The measure will take effect in summer 2018 and add Newberg to a growing list of towns that have joined TVF&R after being unable to adequately provide fire, emergency medical and ambulance service due to budget cutbacks, decreases in volunteer numbers and increasing calls.

A companion referendum, Measure 36-191, which would decrease the city of Newberg's tax base by $1.88 per $1,000 of assessed value for a year and allow the city to increase tax rates a maximum of 3 percent annually, was passing by an even larger margin according to the clerk's office. Results show the measure passing with 3,725 yes votes (80.21 percent) to 919 no votes (19.79 percent).

The results from the clerk's office are preliminary and won't be final for several days.