Vote on school levies by Tuesday
Published 11:34 pm Sunday, February 7, 2010
Ballots are due Tuesday in an all-mail election with more than $1 billion on the line for eight Snohomish County school districts.
Voter turnout was tepid through Friday.
Just 23.7 percent of the 306,420 ballots had been returned.
“That’s right on what we expected for a 36 percent turnout,” said Garth Fell, Snohomish County elections manager. “A very small percentage participate in these elections compared to primaries and generals.”
The percentages of returned ballots by Friday ranged from 21 percent in Everett to 27 percent in Snohomish.
Edmonds, Everett, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Mukilteo, Northshore, Snohomish and Sultan school districts have issues before voters.
All have four-year levy proposals that would replace expiring levies. School districts turn to voters every one to four years to pass levies, which provide funding for additional teachers and aides, salary increases, athletics and other extracurricular programs, textbooks, transportation, building maintenance, and other expenses.
Everett, Lake Stevens, Mukilteo and Northshore also have special levies that would help pay for such things as building repairs and technology. Marysville and Northshore school districts hope to pass bond measures for school construction.
In addition, voters in Bothell served by the King County Regional Library will be asked to lift a levy lid.
School districts receive about three-quarters of their daily operations budgets from the state. Many rely on local levies to pay for about 20 percent of their daily operations.
Levy measures require a simple majority to pass; bonds need 60 percent.
School districts are given two chances in a given year to pass a levy or bond.
Ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday to be counted.
Ballot drop-off sites
County Auditor’s Office, first floor, Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today; 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
24-hour drop box, county campus, Rockefeller Avenue and Wall Street, Everett. Closes at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Community collection centers, open today from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.:
Lynnwood Library, 19200 44th Ave. W.
Marysville Library, 6120 Grove St.
Mill Creek QFC, 926 164th St. SE
Mukilteo Library, 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd.
Snohomish Library, 311 Maple Ave.
