A levy that covers 18 percent of the Snohomish School District’s annual operating budget was saved Tuesday, clearing the pass mark in late returns.

It was do-or-reduce time for the district. The four-year maintenance and operation levy failed the first time in March.

“Now we can get back to doing the stuff we should do, to the learning,” Superintendent Bill Mester said. “It’s quite a relief.”

A second proposal that would provide money to replace aging school buses also was passing.

Schools have two chances in a calendar year to pass their operation levies, which help with day-to-day costs and extracurricular programs not covered by state funding. The tax must be renewed by voters, typically every four years.

If the levy were to fail a second time, Snohomish administrators were looking at more than $7 million in cuts in the fall, including a sizeable hack at sports teams and student clubs.

The school district had sent a brochure to each of its households ahead of Tuesday’s election with a list of what would be cut if the levy failed.

Mester also credited a volunteer campaign committee and school staff for helping push the measure over the top.

“Our teachers talked to parents, our coaches talked to parents, our classified staff talked to people – people talked to people … and I think that’s what it took,” Mester said.

Supporters of the levy blamed abysmal turnout at the polls March 14 for its initial failure.

In late returns Tuesday, poll voters were making up 18 percent of all ballots cast, up from a paltry 6 percent in the March election.

More than 8,300 absentee ballots have been counted so far. A final count will take place Friday but is unlikely to change the outcome.

The estimated tax rate of the operation levy is $2.56 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $640 a year for a $250,000 house. The rate is 1 cent more than the current levy.

The two-year transportation vehicle fund levy will raise $1.4 million both years to replace 28 buses. The cost will be 24 cents per $1,000 of value the first year, or $60 for a $250,000 house, and 22 cents the second year.

Snohomish was the only school district in Snohomish County to seek tax requests on both the March and April ballots.

Reporter Melissa Slager: 425-339-3465 or mslager@heraldnet.com.