According to early, unofficial returns for the Tuesday, Feb. 13, special election, the Battle Ground school district levy, Proposition 7, was too close to call, while the Woodland school district levy, Proposition 1, was passing.
As of 8 p.m., early returns showed Battle Ground’s capital levy for safety, facility and technology improvements as failing by four votes, with 6,738 votes in favor, or 49.99 percent, and 6,742 opposed, or 50.01%.
In a much clearer race, the Woodland school support levy for educational programs and operations (EP&O) was passing, with 1,945 votes in favor, or 52.87%, to 1,734 opposed, or 47.13 percent. Those totals are the combined early results for both Clark and Cowlitz counties.
Ballots for both propositions will be updated Wednesday, Feb. 14.
Battle Ground’s levy takes the place of a bond measure that expired at the end of last year. With its passage, property owners are estimated to pay $0.44 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value each year for three years. According to the Battle Ground Public Schools (BGPS) website, BGPS would receive approximately $8.5 million in 2025, $9.2 million in 2026 and $10 million in 2027. The district will not collect more than the amount authorized by voters.
The school district would use the funds for a range of projects. District-wide improvements include security upgrades to school entries; lighting upgrades; network infrastructure; enhanced security systems; and to replace classroom technology. Individual schools would also benefit. See the entire estimated projects list at https://www.battlegroundps.org/capital-levy/.
The Woodland school district EP&O levy is for three years. Property owners will pay an estimated $2.20 per $1,000 of assessed valuation each year. The district will collect $7,050,000 in 2025, $7,400,000 in 2026 and $7,775,000 in 2027.
According to the Woodland Public Schools (WPS) website, the replacement levy pays for critical programming that is not funded by the Washington state Legislature, or 12 to 15 percent. According to the website, funding will go toward staffing, including food, grounds, facilities administrative and support; basic education paraprofessionals, health and program specialist staffing; teachers; extracurricular, arts, music and athletic programs; school nurses; substitute teachers; programs and special education. To see more information about what the levy will fund, go to https://www.woodlandschools.org/levy.
The Clark County and Cowlitz County elections websites will post updated election results until all ballots are counted. Go to https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20240213/clark/ for the latest results for Clark County. Visit https://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/2357/Elections for the latest Cowlitz County election results.
This story will be updated.
