Unofficial results for the April 23 Thurston County special election show the Yelm Community Schools educational programs and operations (EP&O) levy proposition improving from its Feb. 13 special election numbers but still failing by a narrow margin with no more ballots to count.
As of 5 p.m., Thursday, April 25, 3,036 voters, or 49.54%, supported the levy while 3,092 voters, or 50.46%, were opposed.
According to Thurston County Elections, 32.21% of issued ballots were received as of Wednesday, April 24.
In Pierce County, 473 voters, or 42.04%, voted in favor of the proposition, but 652 voters, or 57.96%, opposed. According to Pierce County Elections, there are no more ballots left to count.
In total, as of Thursday, 3,509 voters, or 48.38% across the two counties chose to approve the proposition while 3,744 voters, or 51.62%, opted to oppose.
Once the results are certified on Friday, May 3, the district cannot make a third attempt at passing the levy until February of 2025.
In a statement to YCS families, Superintendent Chris Woods expressed his disappointment about the results while making a call to action.
“As we move forward, we must prioritize our students’ wellbeing and academic success above all else. This means approaching the decisions ahead with thoughtful consideration and a focus on long-term sustainability,” he wrote. “While some choices may require quick action to address immediate needs, others may necessitate thorough deliberation to ensure we make the best possible choices for our community as a whole.”
The four-year replacement levy, which would have taken effect in January 2025 if approved, would have provided funding for district programs such as athletics, activities, mental health services and special education, as well as staffing.
YCS’ first attempt at approving the EP&O levy failed in the Feb. 13 special election, with 2,779 voters, or 52.96%, opposed and 2,468, or 47.04% in support. The school board voted to place the proposition on the ballot in April with a lower tax rate of $2.25 per $1,000 of assessed property value, compared to the originally proposed $2.50 per $1,000.
The EP&O levy was not a new tax; it would have replaced the current levy that expires at the end of December. The funding it would have collected makes up nearly 13% of the district’s budget. According to district information, 50 cents of every dollar collected would have gone toward teaching and learning, while 25 cents would have gone to support services; 15 cents to fund operations; and 10 cents of every dollar to support athletics and activities.
Prior to the election, the district already began cutting its staff, particularly assistant coaches for athletics and activities, to prepare for another possible levy failure and as it faces the task of balancing its budget. YCS projected in early April that it would finish the 2023-24 school year with a fund balance of $3.3 million, $1.6 million short of its projected balance of $4.9 million from its adopted balance in August. The approved budget already included a deficit of $1.2 million less than the district’s minimum fund balance policy.
In a separate statement written to YCS staff, Woods said the district will continue working on outlining district priorities, meeting with administrators and association leaders, meeting collective bargaining agreement timelines regarding staff reductions, developing ways to gather input, ideas and perspectives, and communicating frequently with all staff. He shared his gratitude to volunteers who supported the district’s efforts to pass the levy.
“Thank you to each and every one of you for your unwavering support and dedication to Yelm Community Schools. Together, we will continue to strive for excellence, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed and thrive,” he wrote.
The next update for the Thurston County special election will be released at 5 p.m., Thursday, May 2. Go to https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/auditor/elections/april-23-2024-special-election for updated results. Pierce County’s next update will be released at 4 p.m. the same day at https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20240423/pierce/.
