PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Auditor’s Office had 983 ballots in-hand but uncounted Wednesday and reported a rise in the voter turnout in the countywide election to more than 57 percent.
More ballots may come in before Friday’s noon count, said Auditor Donna Eldridge, but additional votes will not change election outcomes, in which three measures passed overwhelmingly in the first count of ballots from the special election Tuesday.
“They could change the numbers, but they are not going to change whether or not any of these measures fails or passes,” Eldridge said.
A countywide sales tax hike — which raises the sales tax rate to 9 percent — and replacement property tax levies for both the Port Townsend and Chimacum school districts were passing by wide margins as of Tuesday.
The office also has about 58 ballots with questionable signatures. Voters have been notified and can contact the office to take care of the problems.
57.7% voter turnout
The additional ballots bring the countywide voter turnout to 57.7 percent, up from the 54.4 percent reported Tuesday night.
Of the 21,704 ballots issued in the countywide election, 12,561, or 57.9 percent, have been returned.
Of the 10,807 ballots issued in the Port Townsend schools levy election, 6,509, or 60.2 percent, have been returned.
Of the 8,245 ballots issued in the Chimacum schools levy election, 4,722, or 57.3 percent, have been returned.
The sales tax hike, which benefits Jefferson Transit Authority, was passing by 55.9 percent, or 6,443 votes to 5,073 votes, on Tuesday.
The increase of 3 cents on each $10 purchase or 30 cents on each $100 is expected to raise about $1.1 million to maintain public bus services.
PT schools levy
The four-year Port Townsend School District levy was passing by 66.6 percent, with a vote of 3,914 for to 1,959 against.
The property tax levy, which replaces a levy that expires this year, will collect $3.1 million its first year in 2012 and about 4 percent more each year to $3.4 million in 2015.
The estimated rate of the new levy would be $1.23 per $1,000 the first year and increase to $1.39 per $1,000 in 2015.
The three-year replacement levy for Chimacum schools was passing by 60 percent, with 2,627 voting for the measure and 1,753 voting against.
The Chimacum levy will collect a gradual increase in revenue, from $2.25 million in 2012 to $2.49 million by 2014.
The new levy will cost each property taxpayer $1.23 per $1,000 assessed value the first year and rise to $1.35 per $1,000 the third year.
For more information, phone the Auditor’s Office at 360-385-9119.
