Two local ballot issues to improve emergency services losing on close votes

Two local ballot issues aimed to improve emergency services appeared to be facing narrow defeat, although races were too close to call.

With more than half the votes counted, Flathead County voters were very narrowly rejecting a special emergency communications district that would fund the county’s consolidated 911 dispatch center. 

The vote for the 911 district was 12,488 or 49.38 percent, but the vote against the district was 12,801 or 50.26 percent.

A Kalispell city levy to fund Emergency Medical Services appeared to be more likely to be defeated in the final tally, as it was losing by 3 percent with more than half the votes counted.

The vote for the ambulance levy was 2,702 or 48.5 percent. The vote against the levy was 2,869 or 51.5 percent.

Voters did approve by a 3-to-1 margin a ballot issue that allows Kalispell Public Schools to purchase land for a future elementary school site.

A fire levy in Marion appeared to be handily defeated by a nearly 2-1 margin.