Merger of fire districts in Yelm area still passing

A proposal to consolidate fire services in Yelm and its surrounding rural fire districts slightly increased its tiny margin of support Wednesday as Thurston County Elections continued to count ballots for Tuesday’s special election.

The proposal was receiving 50.3 percent approval in Yelm, the Yelm Fire District and the Fire Protection District No. 4. Measures need 50 percent plus one vote to pass.

Ballots postmarked by the date of the election count, so Thurston County will continue to release updated vote counts this week.

The Thurston County school district levies, all of which all had well above the 50 percent majority needed to pass, maintained about the same level or slightly increased in support Wednesday compared with the initial ballot count Tuesday.

Those results reflected a statewide trend, as many Washington voters proved willing to tax themselves to pay for education, even in hard times.

Statewide, 165 school districts asked voters to approve a total of $4.6 billion in maintenance and operation levies Tuesday. Eleven districts had bond issues on the ballot, four districts asked for transportation funds, and 32 districts asked voters to approve $835 million in capital levies.

Nearly all maintenance and operation levies appeared to be passing, but some districts seeking approval to sell bonds or approval for levies to construct new buildings were unsure of passage. The election results will be certified Feb. 24.

Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, said the elections were a testament to the districts and how hard they worked.

“I think they see the state failing in meeting the needs of education, and they feel like they need to step in at a local level to do it,” he said.

Staff writer Venice Buhain contributed to this report.