Early election returns showed most tax measures passing in seven Pierce County school districts Tuesday.
The exception was in the Eatonville School District, where an operations levy appeared to be failing during initial vote counts.
Eatonville Superintendent Rich Stewart said he was surprised. But he said voters could have been reacting to the increase in property tax rates that the district sought. Approval of the levy, which would have raised about $5 million over four years, would have pushed tax rates over $4 per $1,000 of property value.
Stewart said voters have also been displeased over a proposal to run a four-day school week, and that may have triggered some “no” votes.
“I can only speculate,” he said, when discussing Tuesday’s returns.
He said he will recommend to the Eatonville School Board that it try again for levy passage in an April special election.
More ballots were scheduled to be counted today. Election results won’t be final until Feb. 28.
Elsewhere, the news was more upbeat for levy supporters.
Cheering broke out at the Franklin Pierce School Board meeting as news of the first vote counts came in.
Voters appeared to favor a new capital levy to help upgrade outdated schools in the Parkland-based school district. The measure will raise $5.5 million annually for five years – a total of $27.5 million – beginning in 2013.
Franklin Pierce Superintendent Frank Hewins said he thought the favorable returns were the result of a yearlong planning process that included a committee with broad representation from the school district.
“Their efforts represented a community voice,” he said. “That connection made a difference.”
The money will pay for upgrades in every classroom in the district, along with mechanical systems improvements where needed, he said. The most visible improvements will be at Ford and Keithley middle schools, where kids will get expanded cafeterias that will include space for student performances and assemblies.
The Franklin Pierce capital levy is separate from the district’s basic levy, which pays for day-to-day operations. That levy won’t expire until 2014.
In the Gig Harbor-based Peninsula School District, supporters of a four-year programs and operations levy overcame an active anti-levy campaign that had surfaced in roadside signs, letters to newspapers and advertisements.
Peninsula Superintendent Terry Bouck called the apparent success of the levy “wonderful news for the community and kids of the Peninsula and Gig Harbor area.”
“We’re elated,” he said. “What a great Valentine’s Day.”
He said the four-year levy, which will raise between $20 million to $23 million per year in each of four years beginning in 2013, will keep district programs funded.
“It augments what the state doesn’t do for us – and that’s fully fund basic education,” Bouck said.
Opponents of the levy had said the district was asking for too much money, especially in hard times.
Other districts voting on levies Tuesday were Auburn, Carbonado, Clover Park, Dieringer, Orting and Yelm. The latest results from the vote can be found here.
Debbie Cafazzo: 253-597-8635
debbie.cafazzo@thenewstribune.com
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