EARLY RETURNS: Canyon Lake Voters Reject Proposed Retail Development, Higher Taxes For Fire Protection

Election Day is over in Riverside County, and as of 7 a.m. Nov. 6, the Registrar of Voters office is reporting all precincts have been counted in Canyon Lake and voters there appear to have rejected both ballot measures. However, countywide, approximately 3,000 vote-by-mail, 700 provisional, and 100 damaged ballots that require duplication must still be processed. 

According to current election results in Canyon Lake, 1,101 or 49.15 percent of registered voters in the city cast a "yes" ballot for Measure D, while 1,139 or 50.85 percent voted "no."

The measure asked voters if they were willing to pay a special tax to fund the continuation of Fire Station 60 and the fire protection services it provides. Station 60 is the only fire house in Canyon Lake. Without it, Canyon Lake will rely on fire protection services provided by Lake Elsinore and Menifee stations, something neither city has been keen to support.

Canyon Lake has admittedly struggled to bring in tax revenues to support its public safety services, like fire and police. The city has a lackluster sales tax base due to lack of retail and other services within its borders. Which is one reason why some proponents of Measure E, the other initiative on the Canyon Lake ballot, pushed hard for its passage.

Measure E asked city residents if an area of Canyon Lake commonly known as Goetz Hill should be graded for retail development. The outcome of yesterday's election indicated a strong "no." Just 543 or 24.32 percent of voters cast a "yes" vote, while 1,690 or 75.68 percent voted "no."

It won't be until 6 p.m. Friday that all the vote-by-mail, provisional, and damaged ballots will be counted.

Click here for more on election returns from the County of Riverside Registrar of Voters.