School districts across Grays Harbor fared well in Tuesday evening’s special election as all 12 levies countywide are passing — though some by only a few dozen votes — with the vast majority of ballots counted.
The Grays Harbor County Auditor’s Office released election results shortly after ballot boxes closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday evening. With a 23.47% voter turnout as of Tuesday, 10,497 ballots have been tabulated with an estimated 1,000 left to count. According to the auditor’s website, the next count will be at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15.
While some levies are passing by a sizeable number of votes, others will be decided by the remaining ballots. The Aberdeen School District’s educational and operations levy, which would garner $6 million each year over the next four years at $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value is passing by 15 votes, 1,185 to 1,170, or 50.3% to 49.7%.
Aberdeen’s smaller capital projects levy is also passing which would garner anywhere from $2.18 million to $2.46 million each year over the next four years at a rate of $1 per $1,000 of assessed value. Aberdeen’s smaller capital projects levy is also passing by about 75 votes, difference of 51.5% to 48.3%. It would allow the district to collect between $2.2 million and $2.5 million each year for four years at a rate of $1 per $1,000.
In Hoquiam, school district voters seem to have approved a two-year levy for programs and operations, with 55% voting in favor. It will allow the district to garner $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value — about $3.2 million and $3.6 million in the next two years.
More people voted in the race for North Beach School District’s levy for programs and operations than any other measure county-wide. A 55% majority of the group voiced approval for the two-year levy, outnumbering those against by about 250. The levy allows collection of $0.71 per $1,000 of assessed property value, about $2.3 million per year.
A levy for educational programs and operations of the Montesano School District is passing by more than 100 votes and a 54% majority. The levy would bring in anywhere from $3.2 million to $3.8 million each year from 2025 through 2028 at a rate of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.
The Elma School District levy for programs and operations, which would collect about $3.1 million in each of the next two years at an expected rate of $2.19 per $1,000 of assessed value is passing with about 53% of the vote, a 92-ballot margin.
In Cosmopolis, voters supported a two-year levy at a rate of $2.27 per $1,000, estimated to collect a total amount of $660,000 each year in 2025 and 2026. The levy is for educational programs and operations of the school district.
A 55% majority of Oakville School District voters supported a levy for educational programs and operations. The levy, which would garner property taxes at a rate of $2.15 per $1,000 of assessed value, is passing by 34 votes.
McCleary School District has likely passed its levy for programs and operations, as Tuesday’s results show 63% support, nearly a 150-vote margin. The levy would garner about $1.28 million each year in 2025 and 2026 at an estimated rate of $2.50 per $1,000 per assessed value.
Wishkah Valley School District is passing a levy for educational programs and operations, with 67% of voters — 138 people — in support, a lead of 78 votes ahead of those against.
With 96 votes tabulated, 83% of voters in the Satsop School District approved a levy for educational programs and operations.
Contact reporter Clayton Franke at 406-552-3917 or clayton.franke@thedailyworld.com.
