(The Center Square) – After several Spokane County school districts failed to pass bonds last February, a few returned for another shot in the November general election, with only one appearing to prevail after Tuesday night.
Several municipalities and school districts asked Spokane voters to pass tax measures during the general election, with 11 on the November ballot. The county still has around 31,000 ballots left to count, but election officials made it through at least 211,000 on Tuesday night.
Some measures appear to have passed by thin margins, meaning the remaining ballots could change the results. This article will discuss the initial results of four proposals from various school districts around the county.
Readers can find out about the results of the county and the city of Spokane’s sales taxes here.
CHENEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
While some cities and school districts successfully raised taxes this general election, the Cheney School District is crossing its fingers. District officials asked voters to approve a $72 million bond this general election after the same proposal failed last February.
The funding would help construct a new elementary school and provide district-wide health and facility improvements and land acquisitions. The ballot language didn’t include a tax rate, as it’s shared between Cheney’s population as it fluctuates, though it did include a 21-year timeframe.
After the results came out Tuesday, CSD’s bond only had 59.11% of the vote, which requires 60% to pass. Spokane County still has 31,000 ballots to count, but it’s unclear how many will affect the bond.
DEER PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT
Like Cheney and other areas, the Deer Park School District also asked voters to pass a bond after the last attempt failed in February. This time, the bond is only $55.1 million rather than the $62 million DPSD requested last time.
Deer Park’s bond would also build a new elementary school and a transportation facility, replacing the current one that’s almost 100 years old and without many modern amenities.
The district’s current bond rate is about to expire, meaning resident’s tax rates will decrease by about 27 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. Superintendent Dr. Alexa Allman said if voters pass this bond, it will keep the rate relatively the same; if it fails, DPSD could struggle.
Schools are outdated and overcrowded, but like Cheney, DPSD’s bond is falling behind the 60% approval required to pass. The measure currently has 50.97% of the vote.
ORCHARD PRAIRIE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Another measure that appears to have fallen short is out of the Orchard Prairie School District, which asked voters to approve a $6.2 million bond. The revenue would help build a new school for the district that serves only around 75 students.
Based on Tuesday’s results, OPSD only received 52.05% of the vote, short of the 60% needed.
WEST VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
West Valley is the only school district that appears to have passed a tax measure in Spokane County this election. Like others, West Valley School District asked voters for a $92 million bond in February, which failed, but this time, WVSD returned with a capital levy instead.
Superintendent Kyle Rydell said the district opted for the levy due to residents’ concerns with inflation and other tax increases. He noted that this levy would replace another and ultimately reduce the rate by 20 cents to $1 per every $1,000 of assessed property value.
If passed, it would cost taxpayers about $370 annually, based on the median home value of $370,000. The levy currently has 57.03%, surpassing the simple majority needed to pass.
