PORT ANGELES — Clallam County achieved a voter turnout of slightly more than 50 percent in Tuesday’s special election after all votes were counted last week.
No outcomes were changed after the fourth vote of ballots in the election in which voters approved four school district levies.
Each levy needed a simple majority — 50 percent plus one vote — for passage.
The Clallam County Auditor’s Office reported 12,483 ballots were returned of the 24,927 provided registered voters, or 50.09 percent.
No ballots are left on hand to count, the office reported Friday. The election will be certified Feb. 21.
The Port Angeles School District’s $52.6 million, five-year capital projects levy received 6,001 yes votes, or 54.37 percent, and 5,037 no votes, or 45.63 percent of the 11,045 ballots counted in that election.
The controversial measure will fund expansion and remodeling of Stevens Middle School and begin a 30-year plan to upgrade the district’s other schools.
Voters approved both Crescent School District levies: a replacement educational programs and operations (EP&O) levy of $520,000 for four years and a four-year capital projects levy that would provide $500,000 for work on school facilities.
The EP&O levy received 644 yes votes, or 65.71 percent, and 336 no votes, or 34.29 percent, while the capital projects levy won 659 yes votes, or 67.18 percent to 322 no votes, or 32.82 percent of the 984 ballots provided.
Cape Flattery School District voters overwhelmingly approved an EP&O levy of about $360,000 for each of the next four years. The measure received 351 yes votes, or 77.31 percent, to 103 no votes, or 22.69 percent of the 454 ballots provided voters.
In Port Angeles, Proposition 1 will raise the school district’s local levy rate by $2.62 per $1,000 of assessed value and result in a $4.12 total school levy.
A $2.62 levy increase is equal to a $655 property tax increase for the owner of a $250,000 home.
In addition to funding the expansion and remodel of Stevens Middle School and re-establishing a sixth- through eighth-grade middle school system, it will trigger a 30-year plan to upgrade aging facilities at Franklin, Hamilton and Roosevelt elementary schools and Port Angeles High School, all of which are in poor or unsatisfactory condition, district officials said.
In Joyce, Proposition 1 replaces an expiring levy for educational programs and operations. The levy rate will be $1.45 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
Proposition 2 raises additional funds for construction, modernization and remodeling of school facilities. The levy rate will be $0.348 per $1,000 valuation.
David Bingham, Crescent School District superintendent and principal said the measures will allow the district to maintain such programs as music and band and to maintain nurses and counselors for students, as well as fund locker room improvements like private showers and other upgrades like a backup generator for the kitchen/cafeteria and septic system pump.
The Cape Flattery School District’s EP&O levy sets the levy rate at $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation and will generate about $360,000 in each of the next four years.
District Superintendent Michelle Parkin said the funds will be used to provide services that go beyond core areas like social and emotional learning, problem-solving and life skills.
Cape Flattery School District also will be eligible for $575,000 in levy equalization funds, Parkin said.
