MATTAWA — The South Grant County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a candidate and local agency forum Wednesday evening at Wahluke High School from 5-7 p.m.

“Our goals are to improve the economic climate for the area overall,” said Pam Thorsen, secretary for the chamber. “And so, one way of doing that is informing the citizens who are registered to vote about the people that are running all these special service districts.”

Thorsen said having informed voters is vital to the health of the community, both economically and literally in some cases. Representatives from the city of Mattawa will be at the event, along with representatives from Wahluke School District, Grant County Hospital District 5 which runs the clinic in Mattawa, Grant County Fire District 8 and other districts that serve the south end of Grant County.

She said she hopes her fellow South Grant County residents will attend the event to learn about the districts present.

“For many years, I didn’t pay attention to my property tax bill, and now I do,” Thorsen said. “And, I think it’s incumbent upon all of us to understand what those (special purpose districts) are and what they’re wanting to provide.”

Understanding what the community is getting for their tax dollars is important, she said.

“It’s an education process,” Thorsen said.

Wahluke High School is located at 505 N. Boundary Road in Mattawa.

For more information about the South Grant County Chamber of Commerce visit their website at sograntcountywachamber.com.