Everett EMS levy passing; school measures trailing in Monroe, Marysville

Published 10:02 pm Tuesday, April 27, 2010

EVERETT — Voters in Everett agreed to pay more for emergency medical services Tuesday but local school districts faced a tough sell getting taxpayers to pay for building improvements.

The all-mail special election was marked by light turnout with little more than a quarter of the ballots counted Tuesday night.

Everett voters approved a levy rate increase by a 2-1 margin that would raise $2 million a year by boosting property taxes. Voters in Monroe rejected measures to upgrade school technology, improve buildings and update their bus fleet.

Marysville voters also rejected a proposal to replace aging Cascade Elementary School and improve technology, while Index voters overwhelmingly supported a maintenance and operation levy.

In Everett, the levy rate for the emergency medical services tax will increase from 32 cents to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. An owner of a $300,000 home would pay $150 a year — $54 more than now.

The hike puts Everett in line with what five other communities in Snohomish County pay for EMS services: Lynnwood, Marysville, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds and Brier.

“What a tremendous vote of confidence from our citizens in a tough economic time,” Mayor Ray Stephanson said. “I couldn’t be more thankful for their strong show of support.”

Monroe voters were rejecting all three measures based on ballots counted Tuesday night.

Most in trouble are a technology and capital projects levy to repair school buildings as well as a $47.4 million bond that included construction projects at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

A small transportation levy to replace aging buses that are between 18 and 25 years old was failing narrowly, but has a decent chance to pass when the rest of the ballots are counted, officials said.

“We were always concerned for the economic climate,” said Rosemary O’Neil, a Monroe School District spokeswoman. “Our board took a long time going over the proposals inch by inch and only asked for the very minimum that was needed. The sadness is really for the young people who live in this community.”

Leaders in the Marysville School District hoped a smaller bond proposal for school construction on Tuesday’s ballot would fare better than one voters rejected in February. It did not.

A $32 million bond measure was receiving just over a 50 percent “yes” vote Tuesday but needs a 60 percent supermajority to pass.

Marysville removed large projects at two schools to scale back the ballot package to $32 million, from $78 million. The February proposal received a 53 percent “yes” vote.

“I’m disappointed,” said Superintendent Larry Nyland. “I understand the economic times are tough.” Nyland hoped the measure might pass because the overall tax rate still would have been less than what taxpayers are now paying with an old bond measure expiring.

Index easily passed a four-year maintenance and operation levy with nearly an 80 percent “yes” vote.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.