PORT TOWNSEND — Outcomes of special elections were unchanged after a second count of Jefferson County ballots today.
Tuesday’s special elections were for three tax measures.
The Jefferson County Auditor had received an additional 742 ballots by today.
That brought voter turnout to 53.84 percent, with 10,480 ballots returned out of 20,135 mailed.
About 30 votes are left to count, and those will be counted on the same day the election is certified, Feb. 24.
Voters overwhelmingly supported the approval of a bond that would provide up to $36 million in renovations for the Mountain View Campus, with 2,781 votes, or 71.29 percent, in favor and 1,121 votes, or 28.71 percent, opposed.
A similar margin approved the Port Townsend School’s replacement levy with 4,428 votes, or 71.37 percent, in favor and 1,776 votes, or 28.63 percent opposed.
A 60 percent approval was required for the bond while the levy needed only a simple majority.
With the passage of the Mountain View bond, the city will immediately begin repairs to the 50-year old building, beginning with the roof of the main building which is scheduled for replacement this summer, said City Manager David Timmons.
As a replacement levy, the school measure won’t fund any new programs but will support those that are ongoing, according to David Engle, the district’s superintendent.
A $34.8 million bond that supported renovations at the Chimacum School System received a slim majority but fell short of needed 60 percent approval.
The second count showed 2,295 votes or 51.61 percent in favor and 4,447 or 48.39 in opposition.
Chimacum School officials have said they will present the measure to voters again, which could occur as soon as the April 28 special election.
The measure would renovate and replace current school buildings as well as construct an athletic center that could host regional events and serve as an outdoor classroom, school officials say.
