Ballot measures pass in Clallam, Jefferson counties

Voters approved all measures on special election ballots in Clallam and Jefferson counties on Tuesday.

All ballots in hand were counted in both counties Tuesday night. More ballots are expected to arrive today and Thursday — ballots had to be postmarked Tuesday to be counted — but it was unlikely that the outcomes would change. Measures needed a simple majority to pass.

The Sequim School District’s proposed levy passed by 60 percent, with 6,856 votes in favor and 4,564 votes, or 39.96 percent, opposed.

The Cape Flattery School District’s proposed levy passed by 80.57 percent, or 340 yes votes to 82 no votes, or 19.43 percent.

A levy lid lift for the Joyce Fire District — Fire District 4 — won by 58.68 percent, or 365 votes approving it to 257, or 41.32, against it.

The Brinnon School District levy won by 60.25 percent, with 341 votes in favor to 225 votes, or 39.75 percent, opposed.

The Sequim schools measure will raise $4.05 million for Sequim’s public schools next year, $4.9 million in 2012 and $5.78 million in 2013.

The levy will replace one that expires at the end of this year, and raises the tax rate.

The levy is intended to pay teachers’ salaries, fund an after-school homework-help program and restore positions, such as the school nurse, that were cut when state funding was slashed last year.

Since the Sequim district stretches from Blue Mountain Road through Sequim to Gardiner in Jefferson County, voters in both counties voted on the Sequim measure.

The Clallam County Auditor mailed 20,534 ballots to voters in the district — with 11,286 ballots, or 54.94 percent returned, while the Jefferson County Auditor mailed 253 ballots, with 151 ballots, or 59.3 percent returned.

The Cape Flattery maintenance and operations levy will bring $350,000 to the school district — which includes Clallam Bay, Sekiu and Neah Bay.

Of the 1,074 ballots mailed to voters, 422 — or 39.33 percent — were returned.

The levy lid lift for the Joyce Fire Department will fund fire protection equipment, maintenance and operations.

It will restore the district’s 2010 regular property tax levy rate to an amount not to exceed 76 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation for collection in 2011.

Of the 1,434 ballots mailed to voters in the Joyce Fire District, 622 — or 43.33 percent — were returned.

The Brinnon School District two-year maintenance and operations replacement levy ballot measure will raise $572,000 over two years starting in 2011.

The levy replaces an existing levy that expires this year, with levy money going toward textbooks, supplies and unfunded special education requirements.

The total number of ballots mailed in Clallam County were 23,033, with 12,323 returned and counted, for a voter turnout of 53.40 percent.

The percentage of voter turnout was higher in Jefferson County, where 718 ballots out of 1,209 mailed to voters were returned and counted, for a turnout of 59.39 percent.

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