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School administrators across the state applauded the passage of EHJR 4204 last November, a legislative resolution which stated that educational levies could be approved with a simple majority, or any margin over 50 percent of the vote.
The bill, however did not apply to bonds, which still require a supermajority, or at least 60 percent, to pass.
In the East Valley School District, clarifying the distinction between the two ballot issues just might make the difference in the allocation of nearly $56 million in funds for a series of critical capital facility improvements.
On Monday, the EVSD board of directors voted unanimously to rerun a bond vote that fell approximately 200 votes short of passage on March 11. Based on a recommendation from the district’s capital facilities committee, the board approved the vote for the May 20 election.
“They felt that if it was important enough to put on the March ballot, it was important enough to run it again in May,” said EVSD spokeswoman Judi Christiansen.
Part of the problem, according to bond supporters, was that voters within EVSD were under the impression that EHJR 4204 applied to all educational initiatives.
“We received a lot of congratulations on election day from people who thought we had won because we earned over 55 percent of the vote,” said Kay Sieck, chairwoman of the facilities committee. “There were a lot of people who didn’t vote because they figured we would win fairly easily.”
Only about 41 percent of registered voters within the district cast ballots earlier this month, a total just over 5,100.
The $33 million bond would have included $22.7 million in state matching funds and paid for extensive renovation projects at East Valley Middle School, Otis Orchards Elementary and Mountain View Middle School. The funds would also cover a variety of improvements at each elementary school in the district including infrastructure upgrades.
Kerri Lunstroth, EVSD board president, said voters should be aware that the proposed increase in property tax -- $1.40 on every $1,000 of assessed property value – actually represents a decrease in the current tax of $1.50 per $1,000 on a bond passed in 1996 which runs out later this year.
Lunstroth also talked to a number of people after the March 11 election who thought that EVSD had earned a victory.
“They thought 4204 applied to bonds,” she said.
In 2004, the West Valley School District saw a technology levy fail by a margin of two votes. As was the case with EVSD, West Valley officials found that many voters did not turn in their ballots because they assumed the issue would pass.
“People didn’t think their vote counted,” said Sue Shields, WVSD spokeswoman.
The district got the word out in the months that followed and the bond passed by nearly 70 percent.
“It needs to be people talking with their neighbors,” Shields said.
Sieck said the decision was made to put the bond on the May ballot “because it’s an important issue.” The schools slated for improvements have many infrastructure features that have not been updated in some 30 years, she added. Ballots are expected to be mailed out by the end of April.
“Our goal is to create a quality learning environment,” Sieck said.
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By
Craig Howard
