Battle Ground school levy still failing after picking up votes

Despite gaining nearly 300 “yes” votes following Tuesday’s special February election, the Battle Ground School District’s maintenance and operations levy is still failing after a second count from the Clark County Elections Office.

Battle Ground was one of five school districts to put a replacement M&O levy on the ballot, along with Vancouver, Ridgefield, Camas and La Center. It was the only district to have its maintenance and operations levy appear to fail Tuesday after the county’s first count of ballot returns.

The levy represents about 20 percent of Battle Ground’s budget. District officials say they plan to try to pass the levy again during the April special election.

Between the county’s first count Tuesday night and its second Wednesday afternoon, the levy gained 280 “yes” votes. It still falls about 900 votes short of approval.

Meanwhile, the only other levy to fail Tuesday, La Center School District’s capital fund levy, also gained votes after the county’s second count.

The levy, which would go toward improving the sports field at La Center High School, remains behind by 26 votes.

Vancouver and Camas also passed technology levies Tuesday night.

There was no significant swing in the numbers Wednesday afternoon for the levies that passed.