Voters turn down park district request

The Coulee Area Park & Recreation District’s efforts to obtain tax revenue failed at the polls by about 44 votes.

The district’s final vote count gave the measure 57.42 percent favorable votes. It needed a 60-percent yes vote to pass.

Voters within the district’s boundaries cast 2,076 votes, of which 1,192 were favorable, 884 unfavorable.

County auditors were required to certify the election with the state on Tuesday.

The district would have gained 15 cents per $1,000 of property valuation, providing money for the upkeep of North Dam Park and seed money for projects needing matching grant money. It would have cost a homeowner with a $100,000 home $15.

This was the second time the district sought public money through an election. It failed by about the same margin last time.

District Chairman Phil Hansen said he was “disappointed,” but he said district commissioners had plenty to do with the maintenance of North Dam Park and with pursuing an aquatic/wellness center project they have been exploring with the hospital district.

Asked if the park district would try again, Hansen responded, “Probably not anytime soon. We will have to talk about it.”

Final figures show Douglas County gave the most favorable response, providing 105 yes votes and 71 no votes for 59.66 percent in favor, the closest of the four county totals to the 60 percent needed.

Grant County had 527 for and 397 no votes for 57.03 percent; Lincoln County tallied 74 yes votes and 62 no votes for 54.41 percent; and Okanogan County recorded 486 yes votes to 354 no votes for 57.86 percent.

If the issue had passed it would have provided about $35,000 to the district, and its plan was to use the tax dollars to leverage grant money.