Voters still say “No” to Battle Ground and Hockinson school levies, Camas-Washougal fire authority

Tallies for three measures on Tuesday’s special election ballot didn’t change much in updated results released by Clark County’s elections office Thursday.

A majority of voters rejected proposed school levies in Battle Ground and Hockinson, as well as a proposal to create a regional fire authority in east Clark County, with 200 ballots left to count. The next update won’t come until 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The latest results show 5,464 “no” votes (51.45 percent) and 5,156 “yes” votes (48.55 percent) for Proposition 1, which aimed to create a separate taxing district, or regional fire authority, in east Clark County to alleviate financial pressure on the Camas-Washougal Fire Department.

A total of 12,020 voters (51 percent) are still saying “no” to Battle Ground Public Schools’ four-year, $166.3 million levy, narrowly edging out the 11,547 voters (49 percent) who said “yes.” Without the levy, the school district will need to make $20.1 million in cuts, Battle Ground Superintendent Denny Waters said.

Neighboring voters in Hockinson School District rejected a proposed 21-year, $87 million levy. There’s a margin of only 199 votes between those against (1,742 votes, or 54.52 percent) and those in favor (1,453 votes, or 45.48 percent).

The elections office reported voter turnout at 36.54 percent throughout 118 precincts, with a total of 37,391 votes counted so far.

Results will be certified on May 2.