Keep ballots timely, auditor reminds voters
Lou Marzeles
News Editor
It’s a busy time of year for the county auditor. The election is coming soon—Nov. 3—and ballots will soon start flooding her office.
That’s if all goes well. “Voter turn out in the primary was low,” says Brenda Sorensen, Klickitat County Auditor, whose office is responsible for supervising elections in the county, among many other things. “I think it was about 30 percent.”
She looks up the actual figure, which turns out to 29.49 percent of all eligible voters who turned in ballots in the primary.
Sorensen, on the job since November of 2006, would like to see a more substantial voter response in the upcoming election, though she also emphasizes the need for voters to be timely in their ballot returns.
“We are a vote-by-mail county,” she says. “This past primary election, we continued to receive ballots long after election day. I’d like to remind people that they need to either postmark their ballots by election day or have them dropped in the ballot box.”
Sorensen emphasizes the need to take the appropriate steps required to get a ballot to count. If voters wait until Election Day to mail their ballots, they are encouraged to go into the post office and request to have their ballot hand stamped. Doing so will ensure the ballot’s eligibility. Ballots need to be either delivered to a ballot box, the Auditor’s office or postmarked by 8 p.m. election day.
The calendar is ruthless. Election day is the 3rd; if a ballot is post-marked the 4th, a voter is considered to have voted, but that’s it.
“Their ballot won’t be opened or counted,” Sorensen says. “We’ll scan the envelope and mark it as being received with a late postmark, but they’re not included in the mix. “
The county has made it easier to return ballots.
“We have two remote boxes,” Sorensen says, “one in White Salmon in the Pioneer Center parking lot adjacent to the post office, and one here in Goldendale at West Court and South Columbus Avenue that is handicap accessible on either side, or you can drive up to it. We also have a drop box in the office as well.”
Of course, many will rely on the postal service to deliver their ballots to the county auditor—provided they get them in the mail in time.
Added officer, park fund, and animal shelter among new budget items for city
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
A public workshop on the Goldendale city budget drew a crowd of two plus the council and department heads, last Monday. City Administrator, Larry Bellamy reviewed the projected revenue and expenses which were shared with the Council the prior week.
Among the revenue expectations are increases in property and sales taxes. Bellamy budgeted $200,000 more in property tax because the prior year’s expectation was too low, owing to a higher than anticipated valuation of the PSE energy plant. Bellamy’s optimism about sales tax is based on an upward trend, partially fueled by the number of people working on the wind tower projects.
“I think we are also doing a better job on tourism, and we were over-conservative with our estimate last year,” said Bellamy.
Increases in the proposed budget include money for an added police officer, which would increase the number to 10. Chief Rick Johnson indicated that prior to 2008 there were 10 officers, and that the increase would restore the force to the previous number. When questioned by councilman, Tom Cuff, Johnson said they could operate with nine, but that the added officer would allow them to do more specific investigative work. Also in the law enforcement budget request are funds to support an academy that would train up to five reserve officers. Johnson explained that they would team with the Sheriff’s office, who would have a like number trained, and conduct the training locally.
The budget calls for an additional $30,000 to maintain the parks. Bellamy and council members said they have received many good comments on the condition of the parks, but the current budget cannot sustain that level of upkeep. The council would also like to improve the area from Ekone Park to the Little Klickitat River, if possible and discussions about working with the Little League ball park are ongoing.
Under capital outlay, $45,000 would improve and expand the animal shelter, $20,000 is designated to update the telephone system at City Hall, and $15,000 to make improvements at the airport.
The next phase in the process is for the Council to provide input and send the issue to the budget committee, if desired. The preliminary budget needs to be completed by Nov. 2, and a final budget is due prior to Dec. 31.
Couple gets surprise refund from PUD
Barbara and Eugene Dawley of Goldendale were recipients of a “bank error in your favor” card, only this one came from the PUD. A coding error listed their property within the city, and the Dawleys hadn’t noticed they have been paying city tax for several years.
The error was discovered when the Dawleys installed a heat pump, and they were credited for $561.44.
The incorporated communities of Goldendale, Bingen, and White Salmon each charge six percent utility tax, which is stated on the bill. Residents outside those communities do not pay the utility tax.
According to Nadine Huxley, of the PUD, it is rare for the miscoding to occur. “I think it has occurred two or three times in 25 years that I am aware,” says Huxley. The unexpected savings plan was a happy surprise for Dawley, who will use the money to help pay for the heat pump.
|
