Voters defeat District 834 referendum; deep cuts ahead
All three questions that were posed to voters failed, and Stillwater Area School District leaders immediately transitioned into budget-cutting mode.By: Amber Kispert-Smith, Woodbury Bulletin
District 834 is faced with the task of cutting nearly $10 million from its 2012-2013 school year budget.
All three questions that were posed to voters failed.
"We brought our request to the community this fall knowing times are tough and many residents are feeling the strain of an unstable economy," District 834 Superintendent Corey Lunn said in a news release. "Yet, we also knew our schools’ financial needs were real and that it was our duty to bring our students needs to the community for a vote."
Lunn said the budget-cutting process begins immediately. The impact will be palpable, he said.
"Programs will be cut. Fees will increase. Families will feel the burden," he said. "By necessity, our schools will be different. These will be challenging conversations."
The questions were posed to lessen the $10 million deficit to $5 million as well as provide technology upgrades at schools.
The first question asked voters whether or not to approve an operating levy of $1,465 per student, which is an increase of $468 from the current levy.
The election results state 47.86 percent in favor and 52.14 percent against.
The second question asked voters whether or not to pass a capital projects levy of $980,000 a year for technology improvements. The election results state 47.03 percent are in favor of the levy and 52.97 percent are against it.
The third question asked voters whether or not to pass a $18.1 million bond request to renovate science labs and improve air quality at six schools.
The elections results state that 48.34 percent are in favor and 51.66 percent are against.
See the Nov. 16 edition of the Woodbury Bulletin for the full story.
Tags: news, elections, education
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