Multiple levies pass in county election

COLFAX— Several levies were on this year’s General Election Ballot; results so far tabulated for the ballot count are as follows for each town.

ALBION

The Town of Albion Council proposes one levy in this year’s General Election concerning the continued services for Police, Fire, and Code Enforcement.

Resolution No. 23-04 is a one-year proposition that would increase the town’s regular property tax by .86 cents per $1,000 assessed value, or $86 a year per $100,000, raising the town $20,000. The levy passed with 81.82% voting in favor of the proposition.

COLTON

The Town of Colton also proposes one special levy to authorize additional taxes in 2023 for collection in 2024, approximately .85 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, to raise $30,000 for general operations and improvement of the town streets and water and sewer systems. The levy passed with 84.81% voting in favor of the proposition.

ENDICOTT

The Town of Endicott has three separate proposition on the ballot this year, including Fire and EMT protection levies, street work and maintenance and also park maintenance levies.

Proposition 1, the Fire and EMT Protection Levy, would authorize the town to impose a tax levy of $10,000 on an estimated 25 cents or less per $1,000 of assessed value on property.

Funds from this levy would enable the town to pay for fire and EMT services from the local fire district for residents. The proposition has passed with 86.49% voting in favor.

Proposition 2, Street Work and Maintenance, proposes collection of $22,000 on an estimated 53 cents or less per $1,000 of assessed property value.

The proposition would use funds to maintain the street within the town, pay for salaries for the Public Works Department, filling of pot holes and cracks, weed control, plowing and sanding in winter months, but is not limited to these items. As of press time, the levy has passed with 78.38% voting in favor of the proposition.

Endicott’s Proposition 3, Park Maintenance, would collect a tax levy of $11,000 on an estimated 27 cents or less per $1,000 of property value.

These funds would be used to maintain the town parks and Third Street divider. This includes, but is not limited to, paying salaries for Public Works, mowing, weed control and equipment maintenance. The proposition has passed with 70.27% voting in favor of the levy.

FARMINGTON

On this year’s general election ballot, the Town of Farmington has proposed two levies concerning streets and expenses.

The town proposes Resolution 414-23, a street levy to finance street maintenance, repair, and improvements.

The $18,000 levy authorizes the town to collect excess property tax on all taxable property in Farmington. It is estimated at $2.98 or less per $1,000 of assessed value in 2023, to be collected in 2024. The levy did not pass at the time of press with 52.5% voting against the proposition.

The second proposition would allow the town to collect excess property taxes within the town in the amount of $10,000, with an estimated $1.65 or less per $1,000 of assessed value in the year 2023 for collection in 2024.

At the time of press, Proposition 2 was dead even with 50% for and 50% against the levy.

GARFIELD

A Special levy is proposed by Whitman County Cemetery District No. 2, Garfield, for $110,000, an estimated $1.20 or less per $1,000 of assessed value to be collected in 2024 to help defray costs of turf management, including seed, weed, and fertilizer. They levy passed with 72.41% voting in favor of the levy.

LACROSSE

LaCrosse School District No. 126 board of directors proposed a replacement capital levy to modernize, renovate, and improve school facilities.

The $366,666 levy is estimated at $1.43 per $1,000 for collection in 2024, $1.40 for 2025, and $1.37 for 2026, and funds will be used to modernize, renovate, improve, and repair existing school facilities, including acquiring and installing technology equipment and infrastructure. The levy has passed at the time of press, Tuesday, with 59.68% voting in favor.

PALOUSE

The City of Palouse has four proposed levies on this year’s ballot concerning Emergency Medical Services (EMS), infrastructure, the swimming pool, and street oiling.

Palouse EMS Proposition calls for the regular six-year EMS Property tax levy authorizing .50 cents per $1,000 assessed value for six years to provide the city with revenue for emergency medical services. The levy has passed with 77% voting in favor.

With Proposition 1 , the city proposes a levy for funding the operation and maintenance of infrastructure for $55,000, estimated at .7344 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2023, to be collected in 2024. The measure has passed with 62.21% voting in favor of the levy.

Proposition 2 is for the swimming pool’s funding, operation, and maintenance for $50,000, estimated at .6667 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2023, collected in 2024. The proposition passed with 67.76 voting in favor.

Palouse Prop. 4 aims to fund street improvements and the oiling of 189,405 feet of roads within city limits at $50,000. It is estimated at .6677 cents per $1,000 assessed value in 2023 for collection in 2024. The levy passed at 60.75% voting in favor.

ROSALIA

The Town of Rosalia has one proposed street levy this year to defray the cost of street lights, seal coating, shoulder work, capital improvement, and equipment for regular maintenance of city streets, including plowing and sanding, as well as the repair of Brockway from Sixth Street to Seventh Street.

The levy is $50,000, at $1.90 per $1,000 of 2023 assessed value, to be collected in 2024 for the City Street Fund. The levy passed with 66.29% voting in favor.

Rosalia Parks and Recreation District No. 5 proposed a Special Tax Levy of zero percent increase to the prior levy at $85,000, estimated at .48 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, to be collected in 2024 for the Rosalia Park and swimming pool to defray operation and maintenance costs. As of press time, 62.44% voted in favor of the proposition.

ST. JOHN

The Town of St. John proposes two special tax levies concerning street improvements, town maintenance, water, sewer upgrades, and capital improvements this election season.

Proposition 1, a special tax levy of $80,000 comes to an estimated $2.08 per $1,000 of assessed value to be renewed and collected in 2024 to improve streets and maintain the town. The proposition passed with 72.52% voting in favor.

Proposition No. 2 is a special tax levy of $60,000, estimated at $1.56 per $1,000 of assessed value, to be collected in 2024 for water, sewer upgrades, and capital improvements to the town. As of press time, the proposition has passed with 70.99% voting in favor of the levy.

A Raise Levy was proposed by St. John Fire District No. 2 for $18,000, estimated at .47 cents per $1,000 of assessed value renewed and collected in 2024 for maintenance and operation of the fire district. As of press time 100% have voted in favor of the measure.

TEKOA

A Street levy is proposed for this general election for Tekoa concerning ongoing oiling of gravel streets, chip sealing roads, replacing asphalt, or repairing and replacing sidewalks.

The special tax levy is $50,000, estimated at $1.70 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2023, to be collected in 2024 to continue the current level of maintenance. As of press time, the levy has passed with 74.15% voting in favor of the proposition.

Tekoa Park and Recreation District No. 6 proposed a maintenance and operation levy of $130,000, estimated at $1.63 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection in 2024, to operate and maintain the three local parks and the pool. 73.75% of voters have voted in favor of the proposition.