SEQUIM — The hefty maintenance and operations levy pitched by officials of Clallam County Fire District No. 3 was passing after Tuesday night’s election returns.
The vote was 54 percent yes, 46 percent no — 1,636 to 1,379.
The district sought a hike from 91.5 cents to $1.50 per $1,000 in assessed property value.
Fire district maintenance and operations levies need a simple majority of votes to pass.
Elections workers from the Clallam County Auditor’s Office tabulated 10,084 ballots from the county’s all-mail election Tuesday night — and plan to count 6,595 more on Friday.
Those figures represent total returns from Clallam County.
No information was available Tuesday to determine how many are from District No. 3.
Mail-in ballots received today, Thursday and Friday will be opened and counted next week.
Ballots need to be postmarked by Tuesday to be counted.
Fire Chief Steve Vogel expressed gratitude and relief in a phone interview shortly after Tuesday’s results were posted.
“What are my feelings? My feelings are, ‘Thank you, people in Fire District 3,” Vogel said, obviously pleased and guardedly optimistic.
“I promise to, along with my commissioners, their money carefully,” Vogel added.