FORKS — The Forks Community Hospital’s property tax levy once again has received the support of West End voters.
After the first night of voting Tuesday, the levy, known as Proposition 1 on the Nov. 4 general election ballot, received 1,251 yes votes, or 71.86 percent, and 490 no votes, or 28.14 percent.
It needs a supermajority of 60 percent to pass.
The Clallam County Auditor’s Office on Tuesday night did not have the number of ballots mailed to hospital district voters and the number returned for counting.
Ballots were sent to 45,766 registered voters across Clallam County.
County Auditor Patty Rosand said her office counted 24,242 ballots on Tuesday, and that she expects another 6,000 to 8,000 ballots, or 10 percent, to come in.
The next count will occur on Friday, and the tally finalized Nov. 25.
The levy will raise between $75,000 and $80,000 a year to fund ambulances, emergency room services, training, equipment and supplies for the West End, said Camille Scott, hospital administrator.
The levy of 20 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value comes before Clallam County Hospital District No. 1 voters every six years.
The levy costs the owner of a $150,000 home about $30 a year in property taxes.
West End voters haven’t been as supportive of other tax measures.
In 2005, they decided against a $9.825 million bond for improvements on the Bogacheil/West End Outreach Clinic.
Two measures to fund the Forks swimming pool also were turned down.
An operating levy in 2006 received 53 percent approval but needed a 60 percent supermajority for passage.
In 2007, a proposal to create a larger park and recreation district to allow more funding for the pool was also rejected.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or tom.callis@ peninsuladailynews.com.
