New ballots fail to lift ‘Link’ project — so far

A sales tax hike to expand Kennewick’s Three Rivers Convention Center has likely failed after a fresh round of ballots was counted Wednesday.

With an estimated 77 percent of ballots cast in the Aug. 2 primary counted, the vote count was 4,854 “no” votes — 53 percent — to 4,296 “yes” — 47 percent.

The Kennewick Public Facilities District asked voters to approve a two-tenths of a percent sales tax increase to fund a $35 million upgrade to the convention center. It would have added 2 cents to a $10 purchase in the city.

Barbara Johnson, chairwoman of the facilities district, said she’s hopeful that when the 8,000 ballots left to count are tallied, the measure will move into the win column. Benton County will release its next count at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 4.

She was realistic as well — the facilities district board will review the results and consider its next steps.

“This is important for the city,” Johnson said.

It would be the second time Kennewick voters have rejected a sales tax request to upgrade the Three Rivers facilities, which opened in 2004. Backers say the 110,000-square-foot addition would have positioned Three Rivers to better compete with Spokane and other convention centers for lucrative meeting business.

Public facilities districts are limited to voter-approved sales tax increases to pay for capital expansion projects.

This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 7:26 PM with the headline "New ballots fail to lift ‘Link’ project — so far."