Special election: Ridgefield, Hockinson measures failing; La Center's passing

Posted

The first count of ballots for the Feb. 12 special election show the majority of North County school district measures headed for defeat with about 87 percent of ballots estimated to have been counted. The first count showed a voter turnout of 28.5 percent countywide.  Close to 57,400 ballots have been counted, with Clark County Elections estimating about 8,500 left. The next count is scheduled for 4 p.m. Feb. 13.

La Center

Of the four ballot measures put forth by North County school districts, La Center School District’s replacement for its expiring maintenance and operations levy was the only one looking to pass, but barely. Of the 2,066 votes counted, 1,063 were in support of the levy, or about 51.5 percent. 

Ridgefield

Although a majority of voters in the Ridgefield School District were in support of a $77 million construction bond that, among other improvements, would fund a new elementary school, it requires a supermajority of more than 60 percent to pass. As of the first count the measure had 3,262 of 5,695 total votes, or about 57.3 percent.



Hockinson

Both of Hockinson School District’s levies — a replacement for its maintenance and operations levy and a technology capital levy — are likely to fail as of the first count. The operations levy replacement had 1,066 out of 2,299 votes in favor, or 46.4 percent. The technology levy had 1,016 out of 2,255 votes in favor, or close to 45.1 percent.

Both La Center and Hockinson’s replacement levies would be for the new maximum of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value, brought about by changes in state law on school funding. Both would be lower than the previous respective levy rates the districts had before the cap went into effect this year.

Hockinson’s technology levy would raise about $800,000 annually, going from an estimated rate of 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2020 to about 36 cents per $1,000 in 2022. The levy would update the district’s technology systems among other projects.