Voter participation in TDHS school bond hits 9.17 %; Trend could lead to large turnout
Charles Lunsford shows off his ballot this morning, Oct. 24, at the Wasco County Courthouse. There is only one decision to make on this ballot for people living in the North Wasco County School District. To build a new high school or not.
At the end of the day on Oct. 23, Wasco County Elections Clerk Lisa Gambee and her staff received 1,348 ballots back from our 14,693 eligible voters for a 9.17% participation rate.
That’s a large part of the eligible voters and there are still 15 days left to get a ballot in.
It appears locals are quite invested in voting in this off-election as the North Wasco County School District is proposing a 30-year $140 million bond to build a new high school at the SE corner of the Wahtonka High School property.
The current high school is 82 years old. It was built during World War II for 400 students.
The High School Year Book from 1947 - when the school was in prime condition - lists 20 teachers a principal, one secretary, and 378 students.
Currently, there are more than 80 staff at the high school including assistants, teachers, counselors, and administrators and that does not include support - food services, custodians, and maintenance. There are 850 students.
The bond, if passed, has a projected tax rate of $2.73 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The average home in The Dalles is $222,000 of assessed property value - meaning the average property owner would kick in about $50 a month for the new school. Ballots went out in the mail on Oct. 17 for the Nov. 7 election
The November election in 2022 saw 11,768 residents vote in the county for a 63.4% turnout of the 18,548 eligible voters, according to the Oregon Secretary of State’s website.
If ballot returns continue at the current pace, turnout for the current school bond measure could very well eclipse that percentage in 2022.
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