Final levy votes tallied

SANDPOINT — Kootenai-area voters made little difference in the failed outcome of a $12.6 million plant facilities levy put before voters Tuesday.

The measure failed 57.6 percent to 42.4 percent. It needed 55 percent plus one vote for approval.

The complete results did not come in until 1 a.m., according to LPOSD board clerk Julie Menghini.

The Kootenai polling site was the last to report election results because of heavy absentee ballot turnout. Two people opened the mail-in ballots that were sealed in two envelopes, while the walk-in ballots were enclosed in one envelope.

Patrons at that site cast 576 votes in favor and 493 votes against funding the levy, translating to 53.8 percent approval for one of the three Lake Pend Oreille School District facilities that stood the most to gain from passing the levy.

Citizens for Quality Education spent 18 months assessing Lake Pend Oreille School District facilities, then conducted a community poll that indicated voters would not support a bond to upgrade schools.

The organization then surveyed people by telephone who indicated they would pay for completion of Kootenai school, which was targeted for $9 million worth of work, including the addition of 15 classrooms.

The votes tallied for the polling places are:

? Kootenai: 576 yes, 493 no

? Farmin Stidwell: 310 yes, 357 no

? Washington: 351 yes, 253 no

? Clark Fork: 60 yes, 171 no

? Hope: 85 yes, 138 no

? Northside: 155 yes, 425 no

? Sagle: 288 yes, 580 no

? Southside 94 yes, 302 no

? Sandpoint 261 yes, 239 no.