McMinnville rec bond deficit down to 33 in updated results posted Friday

[Update 11/9 10 a.m.]

A new set of ballot returns released by the county clerk Friday, Nov. 7, shows the rec bond deficit reduced from 67 to 33.

The current results are 4,714 (50.18%) against and 4,681 (49.82%) in favor of the measure.

The latest report added 406 votes to the previous ballot count, with those recent ballots including 220 in favor and 186 opposed to the bond measure -- a 54-46 percent margin.

Oregon law requires an automatic recount if results show a difference of 0.2% or less based on total votes for and against a measure. That difference in latest results is 0.35%.

An elector may file a demand for a recount and must pay for it — unless the outcome of the election is changed, in which case the deposit would be refunded.

"We are posting outside of our anticipated schedule because we received the bulk of postmarked ballots yesterday afternoon and feel it is important to provide an update," Clerk Keri Hinton told the News-Register. "We do not expect to continue to receive this many postmarks next week as we only received six today."

Hinton said voters who submitted a ballot that was challenged should have been contacted by now. Voters have until Nov. 25 to resolve any issues. 

"We encourage voters to reach out if they have questions about resolving a signature issue," Hinton said. 

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[Update 11/5 7 p.m.] McMinnville rec bond likely to be rejected

With most ballots counted, the McMinnville rec bond is narrowly failing at the polls.

As of press time Wednesday evening, the vote was 4,528 (50.37%) against Measure 36-237 to 4,461 (49.63%) for it.

Yamhill County Clerk Keri Hinton said Wednesday those results represent all ballots returned to her office or at drop boxes. They were still awaiting additional ballots returned in other counties and those mailed and postmarked by Tuesday.

The measure proposed taking out $98.5 million in bonds to pay for a new recreation facility on Riverside Drive with two pools, a multipurpose gym, a drop-in child care center for people using the facility and classroom and meeting space; along with renovations to the library and senior center and improved and additional park facilities.

Hinton said the office is scheduled to post updated results on Thursday, Nov. 13, to ensure all postmarks are processed.

“As the postmarks come in, we will be evaluating and if we need to post sooner we can do that,” she told the News-Register, also noting the Veterans Day holiday on Tuesday. “We never know how many postmarks we will receive.”

Voters have until Nov. 25 to resolve any ballot challenges. According to the Clerk’s latest report, 10,054 ballots have been received and 9,842 accepted between the McMinnville and Amity elections.

In Amity, voters approved renewal of a local option levy for fire services, 602 (74.05%) to 211 (25.95%) in favor.

Participation in the election was 38.25% in McMinnville and 27.62% in Amity.

Residents can confirm if their ballot was accepted by signing up for the Ballot Trax Program at yamhillcounty.ballottrax.net/voter. Anyone with questions can call the Clerk’s Office at 503-472-7518 or email elections@yamhillcounty.gov.

The recreation and parks measure was referred to the ballot in July with a unanimous vote by McMinnville City Council.

A citizen advisory committee was formed in 2020 to begin finding a solution for the city’s aging community and aquatic centers. Several years of work resulted in a proposal for a $152.5 million bond measure that included a $115 million recreation center, which was planned for the May 2025 election.

In December of last year, the city agreed to purchase the 27-acre Miller property on Riverside Drive for $3.84 million from McMinnville Water & Light — pending voter approval of a bond measure — and has two years to fund construction before the agreement is void.

In January, councilors decided to delay any vote until at least November and internal work on the measure was paused. In May, the newly formed Culture, Parks and Recreation Political Action Committee presented the scaled down proposal eventually approved by councilors.

The CPR Pac raised more than $30,000 in contributions and has spent about $18,700 during its campaign to get the measure passed.

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Update:

A second run of election results posted 11:06 p.m. Tuesday night shows the McMinnville recreation bond being denied 4,528 (50.37%) to 4,461 (49.63%).

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McMinnville rec bond at 3,328 'no' to 3,325 'yes' in first run

McMinnville voters are near evenly split on a decision to pay for a new combined recreation and aquatic center along with renovations to parks, the library and the senior center.

The first run of results Tuesday night had Measure 36-237 failing by three votes, 3,328 to 3,325. 

If passed, the citywide measure would take out $98.5 million in bonds to pay for a new recreation facility with two pools, a multipurpose gym, a drop-in child care center for people using the facility and classroom and meeting space; along with renovations to the library and senior center and improved and additional park facilities.

The bond would increase the annual bond tax rate by an estimated 95 cents to total $1.79 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The ballot measure states: “According to the Yamhill County assessor, the median assessed value for a detached, single-family home in McMinnville was $229,000 in 2024-2025. If this measure is approved and based on the estimated tax rate for the bonds, the estimated additional tax paid for that home would be $217 a year, or about $18 a month.”

Amity Fire District voters are approving Measure 36-4, which would renew the current local option levy for fire services at the same rate, 508 (74.49%) to 174 (25.51%). The levy costs property owners 45 cents per $1,000 valuation, or about $135 per year for the owner of a house assessed at $300,000.

As of 5:38 p.m. today, 8,894 ballots were received and 8,724 ballots accepted combined in the two votes, according to the Yamhill County Clerk. There are 26,463 registered voters in those jurisdictions. 

For more statewide election results, click here.