El Dorado County voters rejected Measure S by a roughly 2-to-1 margin, killing a proposed 3/8-cent sales tax that would have funded Marshall Hospital upgrades and wildfire prevention programs.

The Nov. 5 summary report showed 43,973 no votes and 21,878 yes votes, according to the Mountain Democrat. Those totals are unofficial. The El Dorado County Elections Department had processed 69,706 ballots as of Thursday morning, with approximately 21,711 still to go.

The measure needed a simple majority to pass. Results will be updated twice per week until the Dec. 3 canvass deadline, when the county will certify its final numbers.

What Measure S would have done

The 30-year special sales tax would have generated an estimated $13 million annually, according to the Sacramento Bee. During the first full fiscal year, half of the revenue would have gone to eligible hospitals, 45% to local fire agencies and 5% to wildfire-prevention nonprofits.

Marshall Hospital, the only acute care hospital on El Dorado County's West Slope, has said it needs about $40 million to complete upgrades required to meet state seismic standards, the Bee reported. The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors voted in July to place the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot, according to board records.

Opponents called it a "sweetheart deal for a single private hospital," according to the county voter guide argument signed by members of the California Taxpayer Protection Committee.

Martin Entwistle, CEO of Marshall, told the Mountain Democrat the hospital would press forward despite the loss. Tim Cordero, a Measure S advocate and retired El Dorado County Fire Protection District chief, said he was disappointed but respected the outcome.

EDHCSD board race still unresolved

Closer to home for El Dorado Hills residents, the three-seat El Dorado Hills Community Services District board race remains too close to call.

Steve Gutierrez leads with 7,259 votes. Incumbent Steve Ferry and Ben Glickman are tied for second and third at 7,042 each. Joshua Ziese trails in fourth with 6,210. Wayne Lowery, a former EDHCSD general manager and director who withdrew from the race, still appeared on the ballot and received 5,792 votes, the Mountain Democrat reported.

Gutierrez told the Mountain Democrat, "Our community deserves a CSD that is financially responsible, transparent and focused on delivering the parks and amenities residents were promised."

Ferry, speaking the morning after Election Day, said, "I'm happy about serving one more time. Any three of the men running would have done a great job for El Dorado Hills."

Glickman called the early returns encouraging but noted many ballots remain uncounted.

The county will continue updating results twice weekly through the Dec. 3 certification deadline.