SEQUIM — The third time may be a charm for the Sequim School District maintenance and operations levy.
After failing twice in 2001 the levy was passing Tuesday with 64.44 percent voter approval in the sprawling district that covers eastern Clallam County and the Jefferson County town of Gardiner.
The two-year levy is expected to bring $2.275 million into district coffers in 2003 and $2.35 million during 2004.
In 2001, voters twice rejected a three-year, $8.2 million levy.
School officials and levy supporters passed hugs, high-fives and smiles around in the basement hallway of the courthouse after Clallam County Elections Coordinator Patty Rosand asked if they’d be happy with 64 percent “yes” votes.
State law requires 60 percent voter approval for a maintenance and operations levy to pass.
Tuesday’s tally showed 434 votes separate victory and the 60 percent threshold.
Preliminary results in Clallam County show 6,122 voters favored the levy; 3,357 opposed the measure.
In Gardiner, 66 voters, or 53.66 percent of those voting, favored the levy, and 57, or 46.34 percent, opposed.
Rosand said about 1,200 ballots that arrived Monday and Tuesday will be tabulated Friday.
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