BEAVER — Voters have approved a levy lid lift for Clallam County Fire District No. 6.
The final vote, after the election was certified Tuesday, was 92 votes in favor to 86 against, or 51.69 percent approval to 48.31 percent opposed.
After Tuesday’s final tally of the Nov. 2 election, the Clallam County Auditor’s Office had counted 34,079 ballots out of 45,611 mailed for a final voter turnout of 74.72 percent — making it 15th in the state.
Jefferson second
Jefferson County came in second in the state, with an 81.56 percent turnout, with 17,738 ballots counted of 21,749 mailed.
Columbia County had the highest in the state, 84.75 percent, with 2,196 ballots returned of 2,591 mailed.
San Juan County had the third largest turnout — 80.84 percent, or 9,382 ballots counted of 11,606 mailed.
Levy lid lift
The levy lid lift measure will increase the property tax rate to 90 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation from the current 53 cents, an increase of 37 cents.
That means the owner of a $200,000 home will pay about $180 per year in property taxes — an increase of $74 annually.
The measure will finance improved fire-protection operations, replace apparatus, provide staffing and increase service levels, according to the ballot.
Ballots were sent to the 249 voters within the 30-square-mile district on Quillayute Prairie in the all-mail election.
The measure required a simple majority to pass.
The fire district’s budget is about $31,000 per year, while income is $29,400 — which means that $1,600 per year is drawn from reserves.
The all-volunteer district has no paid staff.
Final numbers
None of the outcomes reported for four contested county races changed after Tuesday’s final counts.
County victories certified Tuesday are:
• Mike Doherty, a Port Angeles Democrat, retained his District 3 seat on the Clallam County commission against Republican Robin Poole of Beaver, with a final tally of 16,578 votes, or 51.71 percent, to 15,479 votes, or 48.28 percent.
• Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly, a Port Angeles Republican, won against a challenge from Sequim attorney Larry Freedman, a Democrat, by 16,708 votes, or 51.94 percent, to 15,459 votes, or 48.06 percent.
• Sheila Roarke Miller of Carlsborg took the Clallam County Community Development Director post from incumbent John Miller of Port Angeles with 15,330 votes, or 53.46 percent, to 13,347 votes, or 46.54 percent.
• Treasurer Judy Scott of Port Angeles lost her position to Selinda Barkhuis of Port Angeles.
Barkhuis won 14,368 votes, or 50.77 percent, to Scott’s 13,930 votes, or 49.23 percent.
District 24 results
Also certified were districtwide results in the 24th District elections.
Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, won 34,977 votes, or 56.18 percent, to Republican Dan Gase’s 27,277 votes, or 43.82 percent. Gase lives in Port Angeles.
Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger, a Sequim Democrat, won 32,300 votes, or 52.33 percent, to Republican Jim McEntire’s 29,427 votes, or 47.67. McEntire is a Port of Port Angeles commissioner and a Sequim resident.
