Voters in Jefferson and Clallam counties appear to have passed measures for the Quilcene School District and Clallam County Fire District 5.
In initial returns Tuesday night, Quilcene School District’s replacement educational programs and operations levy was passing with 420 votes for (59.9 percent) and 281 votes against (40.1 percent).
The proposed levy would raise about $3.8 million through 2028. It would include $904,537 in 2025 and increase incrementally to more than $1 million in the final year of collection.
The levy failed by 25 votes in February, but shortly after the election, the Quilcene School Board held a special meeting and voted to place the same levy on the next available special election ballot.
Board members previously said many community members claimed not to have understood the full impacts of not approving the levy, and a Yes committee was formed to support the measure in the subsequent election.
Meanwhile, voters in Clallam County Fire Protection District 5 — which covers Clallam Bay and Sekiu — were approving a levy increase to fund local firefighting services by a margin of 96 votes for, or 60.4 percent, to 63 votes against, or 39.6 percent.
“This proposition will authorize the District to establish its levy rate at $1.10 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for collection in 2025,” the explanation for Proposition 1 said. “The funds will be used to maintain current service levels. The dollar amount levied in the final year shall serve as the District’s future tax levy base.”
This is the first levy rate adjustment the district has requested in more than 30 years.
Both ballot measures require a simple majority to pass.
Turnout in the Jefferson County election was reported to be nearly 43 percent, with 701 ballots counted out of 1,631 registered voters. There remained about 162 ballots to count as of Tuesday. The next count is expected to be by 4 p.m. Thursday.
In Clallam County, the turnout was reported to be 31.7 percent, with 159 ballots counted out of 501 registered voters. The next update is scheduled to be by 5 p.m. Thursday.
Election results will be certified by each county on May 3. The results posted before certification are unofficial, according to the Washington Secretary of State’s office.
