PORT TOWNSEND — The Chimacum School District measure on today’s ballot was approved, according to the resutls of the initial count tonight.
A total of 2,578 voters, or 61.42 percent of those whose ballots were counted tonight approved the four-year educational maintenance and operation levy, while 1,619, or 38.58 percent, opposed it.
The Jefferson County Auditor’s Office counted all ballots on hand tonight — 4,197, or 45.15 of the 9,296 issued in the Chimacum district.
The next count of ballots in the all-mail election will be at about noon Friday.
The office counted a total of 4,366 ballots, or 44.73 percent of those issued in the Chimacum, Sequim and Quillayute Valley school district elections, but expects to receive more in the mail and from drop boxes.
Levies required 50 percent plus one vote for passage.
Chimacum’s levy would replace one that expires at the end of this year.
It would account for 22 percent of the district’s income, covering a variety of expenditures including extracurricular programs, utilities and maintenance, professional development for staff, online testing and advanced placement courses, new technology, assessment tools, classroom supplies and teachers’ salaries, Superintendent Rick Thompson said.
The levy would cost property owners an estimated $1.82 per $1,000 assessed value in 2018, $1.90 in 2019, $1.99 in 2020 and $2.08 in 2021.
It would raise $3.42 million for the district in 2018, $3.59 million in 2019, $3.77 million in 2020 and $3.96 million in 2021.
