Cost of potential Longview fluoride ballot measure much lower than city had forecast

Adding the advisory measure to the November general election ballot would cost a few hundred dollars, not thousands, county auditor says

There’s been some confusion about the cost of holding an advisory vote on fluoride that the Longview City Council may put on the ballot in November.

In a word, the cost would be several hundred dollars, Cowlitz County Auditor Carolyn Fundingsland, the county’s chief elections official, said Thursday morning.

Assistant Longview City Manager Chris Collins had made public presentations suggesting the cost could range from $14,000 to $50,000.

Collins said Thursday morning he developed those estimates after speaking with the elections office — but not Fundingsland herself — about holding the ballot during the August primary election.

Elections costs to the city and any jurisdiction depend on a several factors, including the number of registered voters and the number of items placed on the ballot. As of this date, it is not known if any city races or issues might be on the August ballot. If the fluoride referendum were the only one, the full costs of the city’s participation in that election would be due to that measure alone.

That led Collins to his $14,000 to $50,000 estimate.

However, the City Council has indicated it would put the fluoride referendum on the November election ballot. At a minimum, three Longview City Council races will be on that ballot. Adding the fluoride referendum to the ballot would cost only several hundred dollars more, Fundingsland said.

The 2023 general election cost the city about $27,000, Fundingsland reported. It featured four city council races and a proposal for a parks maintenance district. Based on inflation and what is expected to be on the ballot, she is estimating the November election will cost the city sbout $30,000.

The city council is due to decide at its April 10 meeting whether to go ahead with the advisory vote in November. It will ask registered voters in the Longview water system service area whether they want to stop fluoridating city drinking water.

The effort got a setback earlier this week when the supervisors of the Beacon Hill Sewer and Water District declined the council’s request to participate in the referendum and supported continued use of fluoride. The district owns about 17% of Longview’s Mint Farm Water Treatment Plant. So the city would need district approval for any changes in its operations.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that has been added to the majority of U.S. drinking water supplies for decades to combat tooth decay. It has widespread support from the medical and dental communities.