Levy passage now depends on late votes

ALMA D. SHARPE, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Thursday, February 7, 2002

OLYMPIA -- Pierce County voters took away the slim advantage that Yelm Community Schools had garnered in their levy election in Thurston County.

Most of the school district is in Thurston County, but part is in Pierce County.

While Thurston County gave Yelm the required 60 percent approval rate to pass the $9 million levy, the number of no votes in Pierce County brought the total down to a 59.16 percent passing rate overall, with all available votes counted as of Tuesday night.

'Tall order'

School levies must get at least 60 percent of the vote to pass.

In order for the Yelm levy to pass, late-arriving absentee ballots that have yet to be counted must have a passing rate of about 65 percent or higher to make the cut, Yelm Superintendent Alan Burke said.

"It's a tall order," he said. "It's going to be real close, but it's doable."

Burke said Thurston County Auditor Kim Wyman told him her office would conduct another count of Yelm votes today.

The same has been promised to Rochester School District officials, given their 57.41 percent passing rate as of Tuesday night.

County numbers

The numbers are not final in Thurston or Pierce Counties until Feb. 15.

Yelm received a total of 1,823 yes votes from Thurston County in the latest count issued Tuesday night, along with 1,214 no votes.

That's a passing rate of 60.03 percent, enough by only one vote to meet the required 60 percent passing rate.

In Pierce County, the Yelm levy received 369 yes votes and 299 no votes. That's a passing rate of 55.24 percent.

In Thurston County, Rochester received an approval rate of 57.41 percent. Its Lewis County voters gave it an approval rate of 63.27 percent.

Steve Homan, elections manager for the Thurston County's Auditors Office, said today's count of absentee ballots received Wednesday could reassure the districts that are on the edge.

"We're trying to see if counting (Wednesday's) ballots will help them pass, just to give them some peace of mind," Homan said.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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