Results from the Tuesday, Nov. 4, general election showed North Bend residents in favor of extra police and local parks, while in Carnation, a package for more police protection was failing by a narrow margin.
A sales tax increase in North Bend was voted in, by an overwhelming majority of 1,188 yes votes, 64 percent, to 670 no votes, 36 percent. The 0.1 percent addition raises the city’s sales tax to 8.9 percent and is projected to raise city revenues by about $200,000.
All of the Prop. 1 revenues are designated for public safety costs in the city, specifically, for the addition of an eighth police officer to cover North Bend, and the remainder for the city’s contract for fire protection services with Eastside Fire & Rescue.
“The (city) council was very clear in its direction. This was not to supplant money that was already being spent on public safety,” said North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing, who on Wednesday morning was very happy with the results, both of the vote, and of the city’s switch to Snoqualmie for police services in March.
“I think that the general public has seen a marked increase in the level of service. And … if a little is good, maybe more is better,” Hearing said.
Snoqualmie Police Chief Steve McCulley expressed his thanks to the city staff and city council for “making public safety in North Bend,” and “most importantly I would like to say thank you to the North Bend residents. The support of Proposition 1, which will add a dedicated eighth police officer, is truly the best affirmation of support and confidence in our officers and our police department.”
A volunteer citizen committee, comprised of Ed Holmes, Jon Wiseman and Sherwood Korssjoen was credited with the campaign in support of Proposition 1.
Although McCulley said his department is ready to hire an officer for North Bend by the end of the month, it’s unlikely that North Bend will see revenue from the new sales tax before June. Once the election results are certified, Nov. 25, the city must provide a 75-day notice of the new tax to the state Department of Revenue. New taxes can begin only at the start of a fiscal quarter, and there is typically a two-month lag between tax assessment and the distribution of its revenue, according to North Bend Finance Director Dawn Masko.
A levy for increased police coverage in Carnation was failing by 30 votes as of press time. The 36-cent tax would have given the city another $70,000 in police services, to be used exclusively for expanding police services in the small community. Carnation currently contracts with the King County Sheriff’s Office for police services.
The votes for Proposition 1 totaled 277 against the levy lid lift, 53 percent, and 247 votes, 47 percent for it.
Voters also strongly supported the maintenance and operations levy from Si View Metropolitan Parks District. The $450,000 levy got 3,650 yes votes, or 73 percent, to 1,335 no votes, 27 percent. The outcome was great news to Si View staff.
“It just feels like we’re doing something good, and it feels good to be supported by the community,” said Si View Director Travis Stombaugh. “We’re doing something that they value.”
Si View has been asking voters annually for the one-year M&O levy since 2011, when property values plummeted and tax rates soared. Taxes in King County were capped at $5.90 per thousand, and as a junior taxing district, Si View was nearly last in line for its share of those taxes. Since values were low, many of the entities ahead of Si View in the distribution increased their property tax rates to preserve their revenue. Anticipating major funding cuts, and subsequent service and staff reductions, Si View floated two propositions in 2011, one to protect a 25-cent portion of their levy, regardless of the $5.90 cap, and the M&O Levy that has been on the general election ballot ever since.
Now that property values are on the rise again, Stombaugh is hopeful that Proposition 1 won’t re-appear next November.
“This will be the last year for a while, we think,” he said. “Since the assessed values are starting to come back up, there’s starting to be room under that $5.90 cap.”
There’s probably not enough room under that cap to fit all of Si View’s tax revenue — about half of its $2 million budget — but the district can rely on the protected 25-cent portion of the levy through 2017.
The Si View Metropolitan Parks District was created in 2003, re-opening the county-owned community center and pool after King County announced plans to close the facilities. Voters approved the creation of the district, and its taxing authority, in a Feb. 4 special election.
King County Elections officials announced plans to post daily results updates by 4:30 p.m. So far, the elections office has received 637,000 ballots, more than 100,000 of them in the past week, and has processed 624,000 for counting. It takes about a day to verify each ballot for counting.
There are 1,181,076 registered voters in King County.
Candidates and state measures
In the Valley’s state legislature races, incumbent Jay Rodne of North Bend beat challenger Essie Hicks of Issaquah, 58 percent to 42 percent to retain his position 1 state representative seat.
Issaquah’s Chad Magendanz, at position 2, kept his seat, winning 59 percent to 41 percent over North Bend challenger David Spring.
U.S. Congressional incumbent Dave Reichert was ahead of opponent Jason Ritchie, 63 percent to 37 percent.
Statewide, the initial vote counts show support for increased gun control. Initiative 594, calling for increased background checks and other changes to state law regarding the transfer of guns between people, is passing with nearly 60 percent voter approval. As of press time Tuesday, 1,171,879 votes were counted in support of 594, to only 810,346 against.
Another gun measure, 591, appears to be failing. Initiative 591, which would require the state to adhere to the federal standard for background checks, at federally licensed retailers only, was running at nearly 55 percent, or 1,081,115 no votes to 45 percent, 882,634 yes.
Both of these measures are Initiatives to the Legislature, which means the state legislature must act on the certified results in its next session. If legislators approve the measure as-is, it becomes state law. If they take any other action, rejection, revision, or refusing to vote on the issue, it will go back to voters on the next general election, along with any proposed revisions from the legislature.
A third initiative, related to education funding and class sizes, was failing in early returns, but is now passing by more than 20,000 votes. The measure would impose a maximum class size of 17 students in grades 3 and lower, and a maximum of 25 students in grades 4 to 12, and require full funding at these levels by 2017. As of press time, the yes votes were slightly ahead 989,754, or 51 percent, to 962,794, or 49 percent no votes.
Initiative 1351 is an Initiative to the People, and would become state law if both the petition signatures are certified, as well as the voting results.
In other state measures, Advisory Vote No. 8, which implements a marijuana excise tax, was passing with 54 percent of the vote, and a margin of about 150,000 votes, according to the Secretary of State’s website. The “yes” vote repeals the legislature’s elimination of agricultural tax preferences for marijuana.
Advisory vote 9, which concerns excise tax on tribe-owned, privately leased land, is passing by 55 percent, 971,255 votes to 790,683 votes to repeal. The measure sought voter affirmation to continue to direct land-use tax on the use of tribal property by private parties in lieu of property taxes.
According to the Snoqualmie Tribe’s website, the local tribe does not lease any of its properties out currently, so the excise tax doesn’t affect the tribe.
However, the tribe endorsed HB 1287, saying it allows tribes to be treated the same as state and local governments regarding land tax rules, and strengthens tribal sovereignty.
King County is expecting to certify the results by Nov. 25.
The Secretary of State (http://www.sos.wa.gov/) will certify final general election results by Dec. 4.
