The proposed school bond that would have brought the Leland School District $8.75 million for several repairs to school facilities did not pass.
The City of Leland held a special election Tuesday, with 1,127 qualified votes cast. If it had passed, the city’s millage rate would have increased by 14 mills.
The repairs, as discussed at several previous board meetings, would have been made to the school’s air conditioning and heating system, renovating the football stadium and lockers, improving security and bringing bathrooms up to code.
There were a reported 1,127 qualified votes cast. In accordance to state law, 60% of those who voted “for” it would be required in order for the bond to pass. Results show there were 662 votes cast in favor and 465 who voted against it, making only 58.7% of votes showing in favor.
In instances of counting affidavits, curbside and absentee ballots, such votes and their projections are usually based off voting percentages as the machine votes as was the case in this election with the curbside votes (20 for/3 against) as well as the affidavit votes (23 for/8 against), but the absentee votes did not reflect that same percentage.
Of the 13 absentee votes cast, only 4 were for the bond, while nine were against it. School officials noted that there was clarity needed about when the absentee ballots were available and where they could be picked up.
School officials did not say officially if they would attempt to get the bond passed again when the final results were announced.
The same school bond proposal that did not pass this week could possibly be placed on the November 5 ballot considering there’s a state wide general election already scheduled on that date.
According to Leland School Superintendent Jessie King, the school board would need to decide whether or not to pursue having the school bond on the November 5 ballot. It is likely that the School Board of Trustees will discuss the matter at their board meeting next week.
The board meets at 6 p.m. Monday at the multi-purpose room at Leland Elementary. All school board meetings are open to the public.
