Final numbers for the April 28 special election show Rochester School District’s capital levy proposal passing by 61 votes.
The election results were certified at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 8. A final count was released at 9 a.m. on Friday.
The measure was narrowly failing on election night, but an additional 870 ballots tallied by the Thurston County Auditor’s Office on Wednesday, April 29, propelled the measure toward approval.
Additional ballots counted between April 29 and May 8 didn’t change the election outcome.
The measure needed 50% plus one vote to pass.
As of the final count before election certification, the measure was passing with 1,617 votes, or 50.98%, in favor and 1,555, or 49.02%, opposed.
One ballot was turned in blank, according to the Thurston County Auditor’s Office, which handled the April 28 special election for both Lewis and Thurston counties.
There was a 30.66% voter turnout among eligible voters within the Rochester School District, according to the Thurston County Auditor’s Office.
The measure’s approval allows the Rochester School District to collect $2,628,405 in 2027 and $2,783,747 in 2028 for the district’s capital projects fund. The fund is used for the construction, modernization and remodeling of school facilities.
The estimated levy rate is $1 per $1,000 of assessed value.
A random audit of the election to demonstrate the accuracy of the tabulation equipment was conducted at 9 a.m. on April 30.
