Election results: Dallas approving, Gervais rejecting school bond proposals
This story will continue to be updated as more results come in. Because ballots could be mailed on Election Day starting this year, elections officials caution the winners may not be known for several days. Election offices expect vote counts after Tuesday to rise more than in past years due to valid ballots arriving at counting locations up to seven days after the election.
Voters in Dallas are approving a school bond that would modernize the district's buildings and construct new ones in Tuesday's initial election returns, while voters in Gervais are voting a similar measure down, according to initial election results.
Both districts have received large grants from the state to pay for improvements. But in order for them to receive them, they must pass bonds.
So they asked property owners in their districts to pay tens of millions of dollars to make the improvements.
Dallas School District bond
In early returns, voters in Dallas were approving the school bond.
Dallas proposed a $28 million bond that would create more space for career and technical programs, upgrade existing buildings, improve safety, add more space, modernize schools and upgrade infrastructure.
The bond would cost property owners $1.70 per $1,000 of assessed value for the next nine years.
The district has been awarded a $4 million grant from the state that it will only receive if the bond passes.
Gervais School District bond
Voters in Gervais were rejecting the district's school bond in early returns.
Gervais asked property tax owners to pay for $31 million in bonds for new construction and repairs on existing facilities.
The bond would cost property owners $2.21 per $1,000 of assessed value for 25 years. The district has not passed a bond since 1990.
The district also received a $4 million grant from the state to pay for improvements, but it will only receive it if it passes a bond.
Among the improvements are additions to the elementary, middle and high schools, adding covered walkways and restrooms, and multipurpose and a covered play area for the elementary school.
The district also received an $800,000 grant for a turf field, and could use bond money to pay the remaining $350,000 it needs for the work.
Donald police levy
Voters in Donald were on track to reject a police operating levy.
The city in north Marion County asked voters to pass a five-year, $1 million levy to pay for police services.
The city is asking property owners to pay $2.07 per $1,000 of assessed value to fund police coverage for 40 hours per week.
Donald is proposing to contract with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to provide an officer for the city. Other cities like Jefferson and Sublimity already contract with the Sheriff’s Office for services.
Aurora municipal bonds
In early returns, voters in Aurora were approving an infrastructure bond.
The city asked property tax owners to pay for $7.1 million in municipal bonds for significant infrastructure improvements.
The bonds would cost voters $2.90 per $1,000 of assessed value for the next 21 years.
Among the improvements are a pump station on the north side of Mill Creek and emergency generators for the city wells, which provide drinking water.
It also would pay for a new city hall, community center and library, as well as a management hub and shelter for extreme weather conditions.
Sublimity fluoride ballot measure
Voters in Sublimity were choosing to keep adding fluoride to their water.
The city 15 miles east of Salem asked its residents if they wanted to continue to put fluoride in the drinking water, a practice the city has undertaken since 1955.
Sublimity is one of 29 in the state that adds fluoride to its drinking water, according to data from the Oregon Health Authority. Oregon is 48th in the nation in the percent of its population that receives fluoride from drinking water.
Adding the naturally occurring mineral into drinking water in an effort to help prevent cavities in children costs the city about $5,000 per year.
Bill Poehler covers Marion County for the Statesman Journal. Contact him at bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Election results: Dallas approving, Gervais rejecting school bonds
