Election night tally indicates Chehalis School District’s levy proposal will likely pass 

As of initial election results after the first count in the Feb. 13 special election, the Chehalis School District’s replacement levy ballot measure will likely pass. 

The election night tally counted 1,631 votes, or 53.88% of the total vote, in favor of passing the levy, and 1,396, or 46.12%, 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.

“I am so thankful for our community,” Chehalis Superintendent Dr. Christine Moloney said in a prepared statement on Tuesday. “Our community shows up for each other and our community shows up for our students by their support of high quality public education. Thank you for supporting Chehalis Schools through your vote. Our promise to our students, our families and the Chehalis community is that we will do everything in our power to help each student not only graduate, but also go on to complete a post secondary path of their choosing where they find success and happiness and as our district mission states, become ‘responsible, contributing citizens’ — preferably right here in Chehalis! Thank you, Chehalis voters.”

The levy replaces the educational programs and operation levy that was approved by Chehalis voters in 2020 and was set to expire in 2024. 

Local levies are used to fund educational needs and services not fully-funded by the state. The current Chehalis school levy accounts for about 11.06% of the school district’s revenue budget, excluding Green Hill Academic School, which is 100% funded by the state, according to the Chehalis School District.

In Chehalis, levy money supports areas such as security and safety, nursing, special education, transportation, curriculum, technology, counseling, library, food service, music, extracurricular activities, insurance and building maintenance.

“The Chehalis School District would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the voters of Chehalis for putting their trust in the Chehalis School District and its use of levy dollars to fund a high-quality education for all students. We would also like to thank the members of Citizens for Chehalis Schools, especially co-chairs Mike Alexander, Rachel Mordick and Greg Lund, for their work supporting this ballot initiative,” the Chehalis School District stated in a news release. 

For full and updated results of the special election in Lewis County, visit https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20240213/lewis/.

More results from Lewis and Thurston counties: 

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.

Initial results included ballots from 10,997 of the county’s 33,815 registered voters, a turnout rate of 32.52%. Election results will be certified by the county at 9 a.m. on Feb. 23.

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 initial results, as of 8 p.m. Tuesday night:

• The Boistfort School District’s levy received 166 yes votes and 84 no votes, an approval rate of 66.4%. The replacement educational programs and operations levy would raise $250,000 in 2025 and 2026.
• The Castle Rock School District’s levy received 1,209 yes votes and 1,042 no votes between Lewis and Cowlitz counties, an approval rate of 53.71%. The capital projects levy would raise $830,000 in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
• The Centralia School District’s levy received 2,705 yes votes and 2,164 no votes, an approval rate of 55.56%. The replacement educational programs and operations levy would raise $6,200,000 in 2025 and 2026.
• The Eatonville School District’s replacement educational programs and operations levy received 1,455 yes votes and 1,076 no votes, an approval rate of 57.49%. 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 1,441 yes votes and 1,089 no votes, an approval rate of 56.96%.
• The Morton School District’s levy received 420 yes votes and 275 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 440 yes votes and 284 no votes, an approval rate of 60.77%
• The Oakville School District’s levy received 185 yes votes and 150 no votes, an approval rate of 55.22%. 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 285 yes votes and 154 no votes, an approval rate of 64.92%.
• 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 1,735 yes votes and 1,152 no votes, 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 565 yes votes and 766 no votes, an approval rate of 42.45%. 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 646 yes votes and 577 no votes, an approval rate of 52.82%. 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.

For full results and updated counts from Lewis County’s special election, visit https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20240213/lewis/.