Voter turnout throughout Clallam County neared 50 percent, while ballot returns in the Sequim School District exceeded 50 percent on Monday, the eve of today’s special elections.
Countywide, 11,383, or 49.38 percent, of the 23,033 ballots mailed in the elections for levy questions in Sequim and Cape Flattery school districts and a proposed levy lid lift in the Joyce Fire District had been returned by Monday, said Patty Rosand, Clallam County Auditor.
All elections are mail-only, and ballots must be returned to the Clallam County Auditor’s Office by 8 p.m. today, or postmarked by today, if mailed.
Votes will be counted tonight.
In the Sequim School District levy measure election, 10,415 ballots, or 50.70 percent of the 20,534 ballots mailed to county voters living in the district, had been returned by Monday.
The measure would raise $4.05 million for Sequim’s public schools next year, $4.9 million in 2012 and $5.78 million in 2013.
The school district stretches from Blue Mountain Road through Sequim to Gardiner in Jefferson County. A total of 253 Jefferson County voters received ballots on the Sequim schools question.
Sequim’s proposed levy replaces one that expires at the end of this year, and raises the tax rate.
In the Cape Flattery School District, —- which includes Clallam Bay, Sekiu and Neah Bay — 388, or 36.16 percent of the 1,074 ballots mailed to voters had been returned by Monday.
The Cape Flattery replacement levy would bring $350,000 to the school district.
Fire district
Voters in the district served by the Joyce Fire Department — Fire Protection District No. 4 — had returned 580 ballots, or 40.39 percent, of the 1,434 ballots mailed in a levy lid lift election had been returned.
The measure asks voters to approve a levy lid lift to fund fire protection equipment, maintenance and operations.
If passed, the levy lid lift proposition would authorize the district to restore its 2010 regular property tax levy rate to an amount not to exceed 76 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation for collection in 2011.
The fire district unsuccessfully attempted a levy lid lift in November 2008.
The school levies will need a simple majority — 50 percent plus one vote — to pass.
The fire district levy lid lift must have a 60 percent supermajority to pass.
