Most school EP&O proposals passing in special election

COLUMBIA BASIN — School district levy proposals are passing in Quincy, Wilson Creek, Grand Coulee, Warden and Royal City but failing in the Wahluke School District in Mattawa.

A construction bond proposal is being rejected by Othello School District voters. Soap Lake residents are approving an increase in the sales tax to pay for street improvements.

Updated vote totals from the Washington Secretary of State in the Feb. 8 special election will be released Thursday afternoon, and the election will be certified Friday.

About 250 ballots are left to count in Grant County, according to the Grant County Auditor’s website. The Adams County Auditor’s website estimated six ballots are left to count.

Soap Lake residents are approving a 0.02% sales tax increase designed to fund street improvements, with 184 yes votes and 96 no votes. The measure required a bare majority, 50% plus one vote, to pass.

The Wahluke educational programs and operations levy is failing by nine votes, with 274 no votes and 263 yes votes. The two-year levy would generate $2.23 million in 2023 and $2.35 million in 2024 if enough outstanding votes in favor are found prior to certifying the election. School levy proposals require a bare majority to pass.

Othello School District voters are rejecting a $51 million construction bond proposal, with 753 no votes to 639 yes votes. A bond proposal requires approval from 60% of participating voters to pass.

The bond would have paid for upgrades to Othello High School, McFarland Middle School as well as Scootney Springs, Hiawatha and Lutacaga elementary schools.

A four-year EP&O levy proposal is passing easily in the Quincy School District, with 1,078 yes votes to 684 no votes. The levy is expected to raise $8.4 million in 2023, $8.6 million in 2024, $8.9 million in 2025 and $9.1 million in 2026.

Warden School District voters are approving two proposals, one a EP&O levy and the second a capital levy for technology improvements. The EP&O levy has 239 yes votes and 163 no votes, while the technology improvement levy has 243 yes votes and 140 no votes.

The two-year EP&O levy is expected to generate $1.25 million in 2023 and $1.3 million in 2024. The technology improvement levy will provide about $143,000 in 2023 and $150,000 in 2024.

Royal School District voters are so far approving a two-year EP&O levy by a wide margin, 377 yes votes to 229 no votes. The levy, for two years, will generate about $1.37 million per year.

Grand Coulee Dam School District voters are rejecting a four-year EP&O levy, 631 no votes to 483 yes votes. The levy would generate about $896,000 in 2023, $963,000 in 2024 and roughly $1 million in 2025 and 2026.

A four-year capital levy to fund safety and technology improvements also is failing in Grand Coulee, with 599 no votes and 477 yes votes. The levy would have provided about $595,000 in 2023, roughly $625,000 in 2024, an estimated $644,000 in 2025 and about $663,000 in 2026.

Wilson Creek School District patrons are approving the district’s two-year EP&O levy proposal by a wide margin, 93 yes votes to 34 no votes. The levy will generate about $264,000 annually.

Voters in the Coulee-Hartline School District are passing a two-year EP&O levy, with 297 yes votes and 120 no votes. The levy will provide about $351,000 each year.

Voter turnout was estimated at about 32.1% in Grant County, and 30.8% in Adams County, according to the Washington Secretary of State’s office. However, not every voter may have voted on each item on their respective ballots.

At a glance

Soap Lake sales tax increase for street improvements

184 yes - 96 no

Wahluke School District EP&O levy

263 yes - 274 no

Othello School District construction bond

639 yes - 753 no

Quincy School District EP&O levy

1,078 yes - 684 no

Warden School District EP&O levy

239 yes - 163 no

Warden School District technology improvement levy

243 yes - 140 no

Royal School District EP&O levy

377 yes - 140 no

Grand Coulee Dam School District EP&O levy

483 yes - 631 no

Grand Coulee Dam School District safety and technology improvement levy

477 yes - 599 no

Wilson Creek School District EP&O levy

93 yes - 34 no

Coulee-Hartline School District EP&O levy

297 yes - 120 no

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.