Sequim, Quillayute Valley ballot items gaining approval in first counts

PORT ANGELES — Two measures for Sequim School District and one for Quillayute Valley School District appeared headed for approval tonight as initial votes were counted in tonight’s special election.

The Sequim School District asked voters to approve two levies: a three-year capital projects levy and a four-year renewal of the educational programs and operation levy.

The Quillayute Valley School District proposed a maintenance and operations levy to replace a levy that expires at the end of this year.

Both districts serve registered voters in both Clallam and Jefferson counties, with the majority in Clallam County.

Overall, Sequim’s capital projects levy won 7,479 votes, or 66.76 percent, while 3,723 votes, or 33.23 percent opposed it; and the educations programs and operations levy won 7,342 votes, or 65.54 percent, with 3,860, or 34.45 percent opposing it.

The overall total for Quillayute Valley in Forks was 619, or 63.55 percent approval to 355 votes, or 36.44 percent rejecting the measure.

Levies require 50 percent plus one vote for passage.

The total number of Sequim ballots counted tonight was 11,202, or 46.82 percent of the 23,921 issued.

The total number of Quillayute Valley ballots was 974 ballots, or 27.5 percent of the 3,442 issued.

In Clallam County, 11,065 Sequim ballots were counted tonight — 47.45 percent of 23,608 issued. A total of 942 votes were counted for Quillayute Valley School District, which is 28.6 percent of the 3,290 issued.

In Jefferson County, 137 Sequim ballots were counted tonight — 43.77 percent of the 313 issued. A total of 32 Quillayute Valley ballots were counted, which is 21.05 percent of the 152 issued.

More ballots received in the mail and taken from drop boxes will be counted Friday in each county — by 4:30 p.m. in Clallam County and around noon in Jefferson County.

The Clallam County Auditor’s Office received 19,882 ballots out of 47,733 issued for three public school district measures — which included Port Angeles — for a total voter turnout of 41.65 percent.

The Jefferson County Auditor’s Office received 4,366 ballots out of 9,761 issued — including for the Chimacum School District — for a voter turnout of 44.73 percent.

Sequim’s capital projects levy would fund demolition of the unused portion of Sequim Community School, allowing the district to qualify for $4.3 million in state matching funds for new school construction, and renovation of the central kitchen.

The capital projects levy would cost property owners an estimated 16 cents per $1,000 assessed value in 2018, 36 cents per $1,000 in 2019 and 81 cents per $1,000 in 2020.

The district would collect $681,000 in 2018, $1.5 million in 2019 and $3.5 million in 2020.

Sequim’s $26.5 million educational programs and operation levy, which would replace a levy that expires at the end of this year, would cost property owners an estimated $1.52 per $1,000 assessed value in 2018, $1.54 in 2019, $1.55 in 2020 and $1.57 in 2021.

The district would collect $6.3 million in 2018, $6.5 million in 2019, $6.7 million in 2020 and $6.9 million in 2021.

The Quillayute Valley School District is asking voters to approve a maintenance and operations levy to replace a levy that expires at the end of this year.

The levy would provide about 13 percent of the district’s $29 million annual budget for four years. It would collect $714,304 annually, matched by the state at $3,188,144 each year.

The levy would cost property owners an estimated $1.48 per $1,000 assessed value in 2018 and 2019, $1.46 per $1,000 in 2020 and $1.44 per $1,000 in 2021. The district would collect $714,304 each year.

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