Early election count shows hospital levy passing

OKANOGAN – Results released last Friday, August 6, from the Okanogan County Auditor show that the special one-year levy for Douglas/Okanogan Hospital District No. 1 is passing with a comfortable margin.
“Voters are approving the measure 71.59 percent to 28.41 percent,” said Jamie Groomes, chief deputy auditor and certified elections administrator. “However, final results will not be determined until the counties certify the election on August 17, 2021.”
Groomes said the Hospital District is shared between the two counties, with 7,539 registered voters residing in Okanogan County and 1,401 registered voters in Douglas County.
A day following the election the Douglas and Okanogan county elections offices learned that “ballots delivered to 216 (2.5 percent) of the 8,940 voters in Hospital District No. 1 did not include the district’s one-year special levy,” said Groomes. “Since election day was August 3, 2021, ballots cannot be reissued to the 216 affected voters for this election.”
Groomes explained that the Douglas County Auditor’s Office received a call on August 4 from the Town of Mansfield inquiring why Hospital District No. 1’s measure was not included on ballots received by Mansfield voters.
“Upon investigation it was discovered that the counties had selected the incorrect ballot styling for the precincts affected, which includes 198 voters in Mansfield and 18 voters in Okanogan County,” said Groomes. “Douglas and Okanogan counties are working closely with the district and are carefully examining their processes to ensure all precincts receive the appropriate ballot style in the future.”
The special one-year excess tax levy will generate an estimated $840,000 for the hospital in 2022. The rate will be 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed property that equates to approximately $66 on a home assessed at $200,000.