Kent and Tahoma school levies passing in early returns | Election results

Measures to support levies in the Kent and Tahoma school districts, King County Library branches in rural areas and expansion of the board of commissioners for Fire District 43 were all passing as of Wednesday’s tally on the King County Elections Web site.

More than 56 percent of voters — 4,150 so far — were giving the thumbs up to the expansion of the board from its current size of three commissioners to five. Commissioners for District 43 oversees Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety.

One of the benefits of expanding the board to five members would allow two members to meet for subcommittee meetings, for example, without there being a quorum.

Meanwhile, both the Kent and Tahoma school districts had two levies each up for renewal. Both districts were asking voters to renew existing levies that support technology as well as operations and education programs, with the latter representing nearly 20 percent of their annual budgets.

Tahoma’s operations and educational programs levy was passing with 54.76 percent of the vote with 4,147 ballots cast in favor of it, while the technology levy was passing with 52.57 percent, 3,841 votes.

Kent’s operations and educational programs levy was also passing with 53.42 percent, 11,381 votes, and the tech levy had 52.86 percent of voters saying yes.

School district levies require a simple majority to pass.

And thus far the ‘yes’ votes on King County Rural Library District measure with slightly more than 51 percent, 101,858 casting their ballots in favor of it.

About 35 percent of ballots cast on all the measures had been counted.

The next round of results will be posted daily with King County Elections scheduled to update results at 4:30.

Contact Covington Reporter News Kris Hill at khill@maplevalleyreporter.com or (425) 432-1209, ext. 5054.

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