Of the 240 ballots yet to be counted by the Thurston County Auditor’s Office, 27 are from precincts in Tumwater, said Tillie Naputi-Pullar, elections supervisor.
The proposition, which would increase property taxes to hire police and firefighters, expand the police station and set up a fund to buy new fire trucks, has been too close to call since the primary election last week. Initial results released Aug. 16 showed it trailing by 27 votes; a ballot run the next day flipped the results, showing the proposition ahead by nine votes.
The next count is expected Tuesday, the day before the election is set for certification. If needed, another count would occur on certification day, Naputi-Pullar said.
Voter turnout for the primary sits at just under 26 percent, with about 25,400 ballots cast out of the 97,815 registered voters, according to the Auditor’s Office. It is still possible for additional ballots to come in, as long as they are properly postmarked by Aug. 16, Naputi-Pullar said.
The slim lead has Tumwater City Administrator John Doan taking a guarded position.
“I’m cautiously optimistic,” he said.
If voters approve the tax increase, the higher levy rate would start being collected next year and generate $1.44 million in additional revenue. Doan said the city plans to hire firefighters and two police officers in 2012. The city will also hire an architect for the police station expansion.
Nate Hulings: 360-754-5476 nhulings@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/outsideoly
