Battle Ground and Hockinson school levies, Camas-Washougal fire authority still failing at ballot box

The results of Clark County’s three special election votes held firm Wednesday, with voters rejecting a proposal to create a regional fire authority in east Clark County and school funding measures in Battle Ground and Hockinson failing.

Results released by the Clark County Elections office Wednesday afternoon showed 5,386 “no” votes (51.56 percent) and 5,061 “yes” votes (48.44 percent) for Proposition 1, which sought to alter the governance of the Camas-Washougal Fire Department and create a separate taxing district known as a regional fire authority.

Battle Ground Public Schools’ four-year, $166.3 million levy proposal received 11,946 “no” votes (51.01 percent) and 11,473 “yes” votes (48.99 percent) as of Wednesday’s count.

“We’re not giving up yet. We’ll be monitoring results,” Battle Ground Superintendent Denny Waters said Tuesday night. “If it doesn’t pass, we’ve got to make $20 million worth of cuts.”

Hockinson School District’s 21-year, $87 million levy proposal is also failing with 1,736 “no” votes (54.54 percent) and 1,447 “yes” votes (45.46 percent) as of Wednesday afternoon.

The Clark County Elections office, which has about 700 ballots left to count, plans to post updated results at 4 p.m. Thursday.