VANCOUVER, Wash. — Vancouver voters rejected an expansive police funding measure a year ago, but they now appear to have given a thumbs up to a smaller-scale version. Proposition 5 , which raises the city's property tax limit to fund up to 13 new officer positions, was sitting at 57.2% support after initial election results were posted Tuesday night.

The measure's apparent success had Vancouver officials breathing a sigh of relief on Wednesday. The city's police force has been stretched thinner and thinner by rapid population growth in recent years, leaving Vancouver with what is currently the second-lowest police department staffing level among Washington cities with more than 100,000 people.

"It's really needed," said Vancouver Police Chief Troy Price. "Our calls for service have g

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