PORT ANGELES — School officials cheered Tuesday as preliminary levy election results were read — the replacement tax was passing 64 percent to 36 percent.
After Tuesday’s first ballot count from the all-mail election, 4,434 voters supported the two-year, $10.7 million maintenance and operations levy, while 2,489 voters opposed it.
The early returns showed the levy was 280 votes over the 60 percent “yes” threshold required by law.
Clallam County Election Coordinator Patty Rosand said unless an overwhelming number of “no” votes are returned, the early results will stand.
“We are thankful and relieved,” School Board President Charlie McClain said Tuesday after seeing the returns.
“We promise to be good stewards of the money.”
Voters had returned 8,143, or 47.4 percent, of the 17,181 ballots issued in the district, but only 6,923 of the ballots were counted Tuesday night.
An additional 1,167 ballots will be counted Friday, along with any ballots that arrived Monday, Tuesday and today that were postmarked before 8 p.m. Tuesday.
An additional ballot count will take place Feb. 11.
The final count and election certification will occur Feb. 14.
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