PORT TOWNSEND — Voters have overwhelmingly approved a replacement maintenance and operations levy for the Port Townsend School District that supporters said is necessary to continue many school programs.
The initial count Tuesday found 3,947 votes or 70.82 percent in favor of the levy, with 1.626 votes, or 29.18 percent opposed.
“I couldn’t be more pleased,” said School Board member Jennifer James-Wilson, who was at the Jefferson County Courthouse when the first vote totals were announced.
“I’m really thrilled that we got an endorsement from the City Council, from the hospital and many businesses,” she added.
James-Wilson said she expected the property tax levy to pass but was surprised by the margin.
“Port Townsend has always supported the schools,” she said.
“I don’t think a regular M&O levy has lost since the ’70s.
“But it is nice to get a really strong return.”
Levy revenue will be used for educational programs, extracurricular support and facilities.
The Jefferson County Auditor’s Office counted 5,332 ballots returned from the 11,347 mailed to district voters, for an election night turnout of 44.99 percent.
As a school levy, the measure needed a simple majority to pass.
The Jefferson County Auditor’s Office on Tuesday counted 9,738 ballots out of 20,135 mailed to registered voters in all races, for a total election night turnout of 48.34 percent.
The office counted all ballots received by Tuesday morning, said Betty Johnson, elections coordinator, who looks for some 800 to 900 more to come in later this week.
The next scheduled count will be by noon Friday, Johnson said, but that could be moved up to Thursday “if any of the races are really close,” she said.
The replacement levy is a necessary part of school financing, according to James-Wilson.
“The school levy in the state of Washington is part of the standard operating procedure for school districts,” she said in November.
“It provides about 25 percent of our budget and the reason that voters should approve it is because it’s part of our basic funding.”
The estimated rate for 2016 is $1.58 per $1,000 of assessed valuation; $1.60 per $1,000 in 2017; $1.63 per $1,000 in 2018; and $1.66 per $1,000 in 2019.
The rate for the current levy, which will expire this year, is $1.56 per $1,000 of assessed value.
