Voters in Benton County have rejected a bond measure to build a new jail. In Tuesday's special election, 52.44% of voters said no to the county's proposal. 47.56 said yes.
Benton County Spokesman Rick Osborn said Tuesday night they're disappointed by the outcome.
Osborne: "The commissioners are going to have to evaluate the results. Figure out what their strategy is going to be and move forward based on that. The fact of the matter remains that Benton County's jail situation hasn't changed at all."
The 40-bed jail was built nearly 40 years ago. Officials have said the building is deteriorating and the layout is unsafe for staff. Opponents of the bond measure felt it was an unnecessary expense for one of the safest counties in the nation.
Update: 9:49 pm
The funding measure to build a new jail for Benton County appears to be failing by a vote of 52.42% NO and 47.58% YES.
BENTON COUNTY, OREGON Unofficial Returns
Run Date:11/03/15 Special Election
RUN TIME:09:49 PM November 3, 2015
VOTES PERCENT
PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 24) . . . . . 24 100.00
REGISTERED VOTERS - TOTAL . . . . . 48,645
BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL. . . . . . . 21,315
BALLOTS CAST - BLANK. . . . . . . 11 .05
VOTER TURNOUT - TOTAL . . . . . . 43.82
VOTER TURNOUT - BLANK . . . . . . .02
2-91 County Measure
Bonds to Construct Jail
(VOTE FOR) 1
Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,133 47.58
No. . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,166 52.42
Total . . . . . . . . . 21,299
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 1
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 15
2-90 City of Philomath
Proposed Hartz Annexation
(VOTE FOR) 1
Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . 792 65.24
No. . . . . . . . . . . . . 422 34.76
Total . . . . . . . . . 1,214
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 20
2-92 Chinook Drive Road District
Renew 5yr Local Option Tax
(VOTE FOR) 1
Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 77.88
No. . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 22.12
Total . . . . . . . . . 104
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Anticipated Final Unofficial Election night returns should be available by 10:30PM tonight.
Update 9:35 pm Benton County Spokesman Rick Osborn says they are eargerly awaiting the release of updated election results at 9:45 pm. He says there are about 3,000 ballots left to count. The jail funding measure is trailing slightly.
8:05 pm
Benton County voters appear to be rejecting a proposal to pay for a new jail to replace the one in Corvallis.
SUMMARY REPORT BENTON COUNTY, OREGON Unofficial Returns
Run Date:11/03/15 Special Election
RUN TIME:08:00 PM November 3, 2015
VOTES PERCENT
PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 24) . . . . . 24 100.00
REGISTERED VOTERS - TOTAL . . . . . 48,645
BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL. . . . . . . . 19,162
BALLOTS CAST - BLANK. . . . . . . 10 .05
VOTER TURNOUT - TOTAL . . . . . . 39.39
VOTER TURNOUT - BLANK . . . . . . .02
2-91 County Measure
Bonds to Construct Jail
Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,155 47.81
No. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,992 52.19
Total . . . . . . . . . 19,147
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 1
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 14
2-90 City of Philomath
Proposed Hartz Annexation
Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . 739 65.11
No. . . . . . . . . . . . . 396 34.89
Total . . . . . . . . . 1,135
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 17
2-92 Chinook Drive Road District
Renew 5yr Local Option Tax
Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 77.89
No. . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 22.11
Total . . . . . . . . . 95
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Anticipated subsequent update of unofficial election returns 9:45PM tonight.
