School levy gets 70 percent yes vote

It’s official: The La Conner School District replacement educational programs and operations levy’s approval was certified Feb. 22 by Skagit County. The final vote count was 1,135 to 487. The 70 percent yes vote was the highest ratio of the three county school districts approving replacement levies.

The 1.5 mill levy will raise some $874,000 annually in 2020 and 2021. It is a reduction of almost one dollar of assessed valuation. It is not a new tax but replaces the expiring two year levy.

Interestingly, the La Conner precinct’s 65 percent approval ranked fifth of the six precincts with totals reported. Only Harmony, the eastern most district in the precinct, and the smallest, 33, had a lower yes ratio.

The Swinomish, Dodge Valley and Shelter Bay precincts were clustered together at over 75 percent yes. Shelter Bay, La Conner, Swinomish and Snee Oosh had the highest voter turnout, in that order.

Padilla and Whitney vote totals are not listed by the elections office because of the precincts’ low number of total voters.