'Huge for our city': Centralia levy passage, other local special election outcomes don't change with updated count

Feb. 14—Updated tallies released Wednesday afternoon did not change the initial results for the 13 measures on the February special election ballot.

While the ballot didn't feature candidates running for public office, school districts throughout Southwest Washington were hoping for a passing grade when initial results from the February special election rolled in Tuesday night.

Updated results included ballots from 12,483 of Lewis County's 33,815 registered voters, a turnout rate of 36.92%.

Election results will be certified by the county at 9 a.m. on Feb. 23. The next count is 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15.

The special election included 11 school districts and local municipalities looking to pass capital bonds or levies. In Washington state, levies need a simple majority of voters to pass, while bonds require 60% approval.

Here are the updated results, as of 4:25 p.m. Wednesday:

The combined totals between Lewis and Thurston counties for the Centralia School District replacement levy showed 3,904 votes, 55.89% of the total, in favor of passing the levy and 2,442, or 44.11%, votes against.

The Chehalis School District replacement levy was passing with 1,896 votes, or 55.13% of the total vote, in favor of passing the levy, and 1,543, or 44.87%, votes against. The replacement levy for educational programs and operations would raise $6,965,000 in 2025, $7,131,250 in 2026, $7,605,780 in 2027 and $7,833,953 in 2028. The district estimates the levy would cost $1.97 in 2025, $1.95 in 2026, $1.94 in 2027 and $1.92 in 2028 per $1,000 in assessed value.

The Boistfort School District's levy received 192 yes votes and 91 no votes, an approval rate of 67.84%. The replacement educational programs and operations levy would raise $250,000 in 2025 and 2026.

The Castle Rock School District's levy received 1,422 yes votes and 1,203 no votes between Lewis and Cowlitz counties, an approval rate of 54.17%. The capital projects levy would raise $830,000 in 2025, 2026 and 2027.

The Eatonville School District's replacement educational programs and operations levy received 1,957 yes votes and 1,416 no votes between Lewis and Pierce counties, an approval rate of 58.02%. The levy would raise $6,273,767 in 2025, $6,581,917 in 2026, $6,905,475 in 2027 and $7,245,211 in 2028.

Additionally, the Eatonville School District hoped to pass a capital projects levy that would raise $1,376,940 in 2025, $1,444,583 in 2026, $1,515,608 in 2027, $1,590,184 in 2028, $1,668,489 in 2029 and $1,750,709 in 2030. The levy received 1,930 yes votes and 1,438 no votes, an approval rate of 57.3%.

The Morton School District's levy received 492 yes votes and 319 no votes, an approval rate of 60.43%. The replacement educational programs and operations levy would raise $1,250,000 in 2025, $1,385,000 in 2026, $1,520,000 in 2027 and $1,655,000 in 2028.

Additionally, the Morton School District hoped to pass a construction bond, which would raise $14 million through bonds that mature within 21 years. The bond received 510 yes votes and 328 no votes, an approval rate of 60.86%

The Oakville School District's levy received 188 yes votes and 152 no votes between Lewis and Grays Harbor counties, an approval rate of 55.29%. The replacement educational programs and operations levy would raise $803,704 in 2025, $884,074 in 2026, $972,482 in 2027 and $1,069,730 in 2028.

The Pe Ell District would like to pass a construction bond to renovate and improve school facilities. If passed, the bond would raise $1.9 million with bonds that mature within 20 years. The bond received 313 yes votes and 174 no votes, an approval rate of 64.27%.

The Rochester School District. The district hoped to pass an educational programs and operations replacement levy, which would raise $5,513,424 in 2025, $5,886,159 in 2026, $6,189,745 in 2027 and $6,400,128 in 2028. The levy received 1,1,738 yes votes and 1,154 no votes between Grays Harbor, Lewis and Thurston counties, an approval rate of 60.1%.

Additionally, the district hoped to pass an $89 million bond, which would mature within 21 years. The bond received 1,532 yes votes and 1,374 no votes, an approval rate of 52.72%. Bonds require 60 percent approval to pass in Washington.

The Toledo School District's levy received 634 yes votes and 869 no votes, an approval rate of 42.18%. The replacement educational programs and operations levy would raise $1,640,000 in 2025, $1,780,000 in 2026 and $1,930,000 in 2027.

Lewis County Fire District No. 2's levy received 733 yes votes and 639 no votes, an approval rate of 53.43%. The property tax levy would establish the regular property tax levy rate at $1.25 per $1,000 in assessed value to be assessed in 2024, and collected in 2025.

'Huge for our city': Centralia School District levy passing (published on election night before updated tally)

The replacement levy for the Centralia School District is passing as of the election night ballot count Tuesday.

In Lewis County, 2,674 ballots, 55.92% of the total, were in favor of the levy, while 2,108, or 44.08%, had voted "no."

In Thurston County, 31 ballots, or 35.63% of the total, were in favor of the levy, while 56, or 64.37%, had voted "no."

The levy requires the combined results from both counties to surpass 50% in order to pass.

Some ballots submitted to drop boxes or postmarked before 8 p.m. Tuesday have yet to be tallied. The next count will be announced Wednesday afternoon.

Voter turnout in Lewis County was 32.52% and 25.4% in Thurston County.

The replacement educational programs and operations levy would raise $6,200,000 for the Centralia School District in 2025 and 2026. The district estimates the levy would cost $1.15 in 2025 and 2026.

"This is huge for our city, for our kids and for our future," said Centralia City Councilor Sarah Althauser of the election results on Tuesday. "Passing of the levy is not only a big deal for our kids, but it shapes our future so it's really exciting. Seeing the community outpour is really great."

This ballot measure marks the Centralia School District's third attempt to pass a replacement levy since February 2023.

A levy proposal for $1.50 per $1,000 assessed value failed on both the February 2023 and April 2023 ballots, prompting the district to make $4.2 million in cuts to the 2023-24 budget to account for the previous levy expiring at the end of December 2023.

The amount requested on the February ballot is lower than the district's previous two requests of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which would have allowed the district to collect no more than $6.7 million in 2024 and no more than $7.6 million in 2025 had they passed.

The levy that expired at the end of 2023 allowed the district to collect an annual total of $4.6 million for 2023.

If passed, the February 2024 levy proposal would allow the district to keep funding the items in its current budget without making more cuts and support programs such as athletics and music that are currently being funded by unsustainable sources, such as the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund and booster clubs, according to previous Chronicle reporting.

Centralia School District Superintendent Lisa Grant expressed her thanks to the voters and to the Citizens for Centralia Schools volunteer group, "who really did tremendous work to support our districts and our students in the campaign," Grant said. "We are thankful for that. And we are also accountable to that. So we know we have continued work to do and will be responsible to our community for that. But we really do appreciate that support for our students."