Issaquah School District voters pass $219 million bond issue
April 17, 2012
UPDATED — 9:55 p.m. April 17, 2011
The results are preliminary, far from final. But the question seems pretty much decided.
According to unofficial results from King County, local residents are voting heavily in favor of allowing the Issaquah School District to sell $219 million in bonds to fund capital improvement projects throughout the district.
Numbers issued by King County at just after 8 p.m. Tuesday show the bond issue is passing easily with 13,476 votes in favor compared to 6,006 votes against, or 69.1 percent to 30.8 percent.
The Issaquah school issue needs to win the approval of a supermajority of 60 percent of those who vote in order to pass. A minimum of 12,229 voters also had to cast their ballots.
Prior to the election, bond backers said based on the number of registered voters expected to cast ballots, the bond issue would need about 14,000 “yes” votes in order to win approval.
King County Elections records strong voter participation
April 17, 2012
Though the deadline for the April 17 special election is history, King County Elections officials continue to reach out to voters to resolve signature issues on ballots from the all-mail contest.
Staffers compare the signatures on returned ballot envelopes against the signature on file in voter registrations. If the elections office receives unsigned ballots, officials attempt to contact the affected voters to resolve the problem. Signature problems must be resolved before the election is certified April 27.
King County voters to decide $200 million levy for juvenile detention facility
April 16, 2012
NEW — 4:30 p.m. April 16, 2012
King County Council members decided Monday to put a $200 million property tax levy to construct a juvenile detention facility on the August ballot.
The proposal is to fund a replacement for the aging Youth Services Center, a juvenile detention facility in Seattle. The facility is a collection of decaying buildings constructed in the 1950s, 1970s and 1990s. Officials deemed the electrical, plumbing, and heating and cooling systems as beyond repair.
Judges and commissioners at the juvenile court on site handle 3,700 cases per year at the detention facility. The complex houses about 65 children and teenagers from throughout the county.
If the nine-year levy is placed on the ballot and passed, homeowners should pay about 7 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, or about $20 per year for a home assessed at $350,000.
King County reports strong participation in April 17 election
April 13, 2012
NEW — 8 a.m. April 13, 2012
King County Elections officials said more than 54,000 voters returned ballots for the April 17 special election by Thursday — more than the average at the same point for special elections.
The elections office mailed 236,000 ballots to voters in the districts participating in special elections. Officials expect a 34 percent return rate, or about 80,000 ballots for the half-dozen government entities participating in the special election.
In the Issaquah School District, the electorate faces a choice on a $219 million school construction bond in the election. (The school district stretches from Preston to Newcastle, and from Sammamish to Renton.)
In order to pass, the measure needs to receive a 60 percent yes vote from a minimum turnout of 12,229 voters.
Local Democrats prepare for caucuses, opportunity to shape party priorities
April 10, 2012
Caucusgoers could change state and, perhaps, national policies as Washington Democrats gather for caucuses April 15.
President Barack Obama is the standard bearer for the Democrats in November, but although the party is not in the midst of a nomination fight, caucusgoers can still influence local, state and national issues by shaping the Democratic Party platform. Caucusgoers can present resolutions on political issues for consideration at local, state and national party gatherings.
Issaquah School District bond issue is now in the hands of voters
April 10, 2012
As of April 9, an estimated 43,000 voters had returned ballots that will help decide six issues on the ballot of the April 17 special election, said Kim Van Ekstrom, chief communications officer for the King County elections department.
The questions include a $219 million capital improvement bond issue put forth by the Issaquah School District. The 43,000 ballots represent all ballots returned in elections throughout the county, not just from the Issaquah School District. The county has not counted ballots for individual election questions, Van Ekstrom said.
Registration is still open to vote in April 17 election
April 5, 2012
NEW — 5:30 p.m. April 5, 2012
King County residents not registered to vote in Washington can still register in person at the King County Elections office or the voter registration annex through April 9, elections officials announced Thursday.
The ballot includes a question for Issaquah School District voters. The electorate faces a choice on a $219 million school construction bond in the special election. (The school district stretches from Preston to Newcastle, and from Sammamish to Renton.)
“Register to vote so you can participate in the April 17 special election,” Elections Director Sherril Huff said in a statement. “Once you’re registered, you’ll have the opportunity to vote in every election and help shape the future of your community.”
Supporters have yet to face opposition to $219 million school bond
April 3, 2012
By now, most of the campaign work is done, said Lesley Austin, one of the two co-chairwomen of Volunteers for Issaquah Schools, the community organization promoting the Issaquah School District’s capital improvement levy on the April 17 ballot.
The VIS group organized so-called honk and waves at 13 locations throughout the district the morning and afternoon of April 2, Austin said. VIS slated a second such event for April 16, the day before ballots in the election are due back to King County.
King County mails ballots for April 17 election
April 3, 2012
Ballots should start to appear in Issaquah School District voters’ mailboxes in the days ahead.
The electorate faces a choice on a $219 million school construction bond in the April 17 election. (The school district stretches from Preston to Newcastle, and from Sammamish to Renton.)
Issaquah School District officials opted not to pay to include a voters’ pamphlet alongside ballots.
“Vote and return your ballot as soon as possible,” Elections Director Sherril Huff said in a statement. “The earlier voters return their ballots to the elections department, the better. We check every voter’s signature before opening the ballots and have a limited amount of time to contact voters if there are any issues to correct.”
Voters can return completed ballots at a drop box or through the mail. Mailed ballots require a 45-cent first-class stamp.
The elections office opened a ballot drop box at Issaquah City Hall, 130 E. Sunset Way. The ballot drop box in Issaquah and other locations countywide remain open until 8 p.m. April 17.
King County to host forum on proposed property tax levy
April 3, 2012
Residents can learn more about a proposed $200 million property tax levy at a King County Council forum April 5.
In March, county leaders proposed the levy to fund a replacement for the aging Youth Services Center, a juvenile detention facility in Seattle.
The forum runs from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Wyckoff Auditorium at Seattle University, 900 Broadway.
Residents can hear from the council members supporting the initiative and other speakers.
Led by Councilman Bob Ferguson, council members proposed to put a measure on the August ballot for a nine-year levy. If the levy is placed on the ballot and passed, homeowners should pay about 7 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, or about $20 per year for a home assessed at $350,000.
Councilwoman Kathy Lambert, the Issaquah representative on the board, joined Ferguson and councilmen Larry Gossett and Joe McDermott to introduce the legislation.
County Executive Dow Constantine and King County Superior Court judges also support the proposed levy.
