By Kate Reardon
Herald Writer
Supporters of a $12 million bond issue in the Monroe School District realize the measure is not likely to pass, even though as many as 500 absentee votes will be counted today.
The district has volunteers who analyze numbers, said Rosemary O’Neil, Monroe schools spokeswoman. They say the outlook is not good.
"It could still happen, but it’s not likely," she said.
Early results show that only 57 percent of voters have approved the measure. It needs 60 percent to pass.
Scott Konopasek, Snohomish County elections manager, said even with today’s absentee ballot count, it would be "almost mathematically impossible" for the measure to make 60 percent.
Elections in other parts of the county are in the same boat, he said.
Bothell and Snohomish County Fire District 4 and 8 measures also were losing.
It appeared unlikely voters would approve a one-time levy that would have enabled Fire District 4 to hire its own paramedics. Voters in Snohomish were approving that measure with 65 percent, but voters in outlining areas were giving only 56 percent approval.
Both measures need 60 percent of the vote to win.
Only 33 percent of the voters in Fire District 8 were approving a request to increase the levy lid to beef up paramedic staffing and provide training facilities for the fire district.
Voters in Bothell also were turning down a $14.9 million bond measure to build a civic center.
May 21 was the second time this year the Monroe bond issue was on the ballot. In February, voters turned down the measure by 200 votes.
February 2003 is the earliest the Monroe School District could ask voters again to consider the bond proposal, which would have paid for upgrades to Maltby Elementary School, a new school and updated technology districtwide. The district has 6,070 students in 11 schools.
The district will have to take other measures to accommodate growth, such as adding portables at some schools and increasing class sizes at others. Average class size in the elementary schools is about 22 students, O’Neil said.
You can call Herald Writer Kate Reardon at 425-339-3455 or send e-mail to reardon@heraldnet.com.
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