Tuesday’s special election in Clark County yielded mixed results. Both Ridgefield schools measures are failing, while Camas’ emergency medical services levy is passing.
The Ridgefield School District is poised for a sixth straight bond failure, with just 58.16 percent voting to approve on Proposition 10 and 50.76 percent voting to approve Proposition 11. The measures require a 60 percent supermajority to pass.
Both measures would fund construction of new school buildings and renovations across the district. Proposition 11 can only pass if both it and Proposition 10 pass.
If it passes, Proposition 10 would collect an estimated $70 million over a maximum of 21 years to build a new 75,000-square-foot elementary school and complete an expansion and other renovations to Ridgefield High School.
If both measures pass, the district would collect an estimated total of $190 million over a maximum of 21 years to build the aforementioned elementary school and addition to the high school, as well as a new 125,000-square-foot intermediate school for fifth through eighth grades.
Residents within district boundaries are paying an estimated $2.53 per $1,000 assessed property value toward schools in 2024 — among the lowest school tax rates in Clark County. If Proposition 10 passes, voters could expect to pay about $3.11 per $1,000 assessed property value in 2025. If both Proposition 10 and 11 pass, voters could expect to pay about $3.89 per $1,000 assessed property value in 2025.
Camas
Camas’ emergency medical services property tax levy appears to be passing, with 75.83 percent voting to approve. The levy is a renewal of a previous measure, not a new tax. It requires a simple majority to pass.
If it passes, the six-year levy would tax Camas residents at 46 cents per $1,000 assessed property value to support emergency response services in the city.
Voter turnout so far is at 32.37 percent, with 12,162 ballots counted among 37,571 registered voters as of Tuesday evening. Clark County Elections estimates there are 2,800 ballots left to count.
The next round of ballots will be released Wednesday at 1 p.m.
