SPRAGUE — Unofficial special election results tallied Tuesday night, Feb. 9, show the School District levy passing with overwhelming support.
According to the Lincoln County Auditor's Office, the initial tallied showed with 145 votes in favor of the measure and 60 votes opposed.
That's 70.73% support in the first count of the measure that included 0 ballots returned from Adams County precincts in the district.
The replacement, two-year educational and operational levy would tax property owners $1.68 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, raising an estimated $195,000 each of the next two years.
The owner of a home valued at $200,000 would pay $336 annually.
The preliminary results aren't likely to change much, even though the county will still have late-arriving ballots to count before the Lincoln County Canvassing Board certifies the election Feb. 19.
After approval, the funds will be used to help cover extracurricular activities including athletics, music, FFA and other other programs. Levy funds also help cover maintenance and operation costs outside of the state's basic education funding.
Ressel said the funds make it possible for local students to participate in sports programs hosted by the adjacent Ritzville School District.
The funds also help cover pre-school programs in Sprague, he said.
“We’re doing everything we can to make sure that we’re basically using every nickel that we have, and using our constituents’ money very carefully and wisely,” Ressel said previously.
— Ritzville Adams County Journal Editor Katie Teachout contributed to this report.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, columnist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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