The Garfield School District 16 recount was completed Nov. 21, according to Garfield County Clerk and Recorder Mildred Alsdorf, and the district came up four votes short of approval of a $996,000 mill levy override.

The final count was 629 votes in favor of the override, and 633 opposed. The original count on Election Night Nov. 4 had the override losing by eight votes ” 622 in favor and 630 opposed.

Alsdorf said the difference between the two counts came because, during the recount, she found 23 uncounted ballots from all around Garfield County, not just District 16.

The final recount did not affect any other election results, Alsdorf said.

Alsdorf said the 23 ballots were found inside mail-in envelopes that election judges placed in boxes that were meant for envelopes that had been emptied of ballots.

“It was just human error,” Alsdorf said.

Of the $996,000 the district hoped to raise through the override, 70 percent was earmarked for higher teacher salaries. The remainder was targeted for a full-time resource and truancy officer, enhanced computer education, new educational programs, summer school, and increased maintenance costs.

School board member Dani Christensen said the board will start discussing how to handle the mill levy override defeat after the holidays.

“We’ll probably have some special sessions to figure out what to do,” Christensen said. “Keeping our kids’ needs in mind is our first priority.”