Levies failed to pass

ADAMS COUNTY – Both the Lind Park and Recreation 3, and the Ritzville Park and Recreation 4, maintenance and operations levies failed to pass in the August 3 primary election, by a narrow margin.

The Ritzville Adams County Journal reported in our August 26 issue they both passed narrowly. The Journal regrets this error.

Both levies needed a 60% approval rating to pass.

The Lind Park and Recreation 3 levy was approved by 187 voters for 58.07%. Rejecting the levy were 135 voters for 41.93%.

The Ritzville Park and Recreation 4 levy was approved by 537 voters for 52.85%. Rejecting the levy were 479 voters for 47.15%.

The 60% approval needed for a levy to pass is also referred to as a Super Majority; unlike a Simple Majority, which requires just a minimum of 50% plus one vote of the total votes cast.

Additionally, levies require a certain minimum number of voters to turn out, or cast a ballot, in order for the election to be validated. The minimum turnout must be at least 40% of the number of voters who cast ballots in the last general election.

In the case of the Lind Park and Recreation 3 levy, 276 of 580 registered voters cast ballots in the November 2019 general election. Therefore, 110 votes were required in the August 3 primary. This was met by a total of 322 votes being cast.

The Ritzville Park and Recreation 4 levy required 330 votes to be cast, or 40% of the 826 votes cast in the November 2019 general election. That requirement was met, with 1,016 total votes cast.

“That is because we don’t want a new tax to be determined by just a few voters,” Adams County Auditor Heidi Hunt said.

Excess levies for schools are exempt from the 60% supermajority and the 40% minimum turnout requirements.

The Ritzville Park and Recreation 4 levy will be included on the November 3 general election ballot, but the Lind Park and Recreation 3 levy will not. In order for a levy to move on to the general election, a resolution requesting it be on the ballot must be submitted on or before the primary election day.