Unofficial results for the Feb. 13 Thurston County special election show both Rainier School District’s education levies passing, while Yelm Community Schools levy is in a more precarious state with only 46% of initial votes in favor of it passing.
Rainier School District
Proposition 1: Educational programs and operations levy (EP&O)
Early results show the Proposition 1 passing, 523-426, or 54.82% of voters in favor to 44.65% opposed. The four-year EP&O levy will provide funding for the district to pay for programs such as athletics, extracurriculars, remediation and special education. It also provides funding for transportation, teachers, classified staff, administration, school resource officers (SROs), professional development, utilities, food services, custodial staffing, maintenance and renovations. It will also provide funding for students with special needs, low-income students and other vulnerable populations.
Rainier School District taxpayers will pay an estimated $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Proposition 2: Capital levy for safety, security, and maintenance repairs
Tuesday’s early votes show 498 voters, or 52.2%, were in favor of the proposition, with 449, or 47.06% opposed. Rainier residents will pay an estimated $1 per $1,000 of assessed value per year for the capital levy, which will support safety, security and maintenance repairs and upgrades.
The six-year capital levy funds would allow RSD to pave its parking lots, replace concrete behind the middle and high school, and replace its track and football field. The levy will also fund security upgrades, including camera replacements, an automated electric doorway entry at the schools, security fencing and multiple maintenance repairs.
The district views the capital levy for safety, security and maintenance repairs as important for several reasons, including maintaining and improving facilities districtwide. Capital levies are often used to fund renovation, maintenance and improvements to school buildings and facilities.
Yelm Community Schools
Proposition 1
According to Thurston County Elections unofficial results, Yelm Community Schools EP&O levy votes were trending in a different direction. While votes are not final, as of 8 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 13, early tallies show 2,105 voters, or 54.04%, opposed the proposition, with 1,786 voters, or 45.85% in support.
If passed, property owners would pay approximately $2.50 per $1,000 assessed value per year.
The EP&O proposition is not a new levy, but would have replaced one that expired last year. The funding it would collect makes up nearly 13% of the district’s budget. According to district information, 50 cents of every dollar collected would go toward teaching and learning, while 25 cents would go toward support services; 15 cents to fund operations; and 10 cents of every dollar would support athletics and activities.
According to the Thurston County Elections website, an estimated 7,500 ballots have yet to be counted. The next update will be released Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. Go to https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/auditor/elections/february-13-2024-special-election for updated results.
This story will be updated.
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