By Fritz Busch
Staff Writer
Cedar Mountain
School district residents overwhelmingly approved extending an existing operating levy for 10 years beginning with taxes payable in 2012, by a vote of 320 to 32, Tuesday.
The vote allows the district to maintain educational programs, services and learning opportunities, offset decreasing and inadequate revenues and minimize the impact of future budget reductions on student programs, according to Cedar Mountain Supt. Bob Tews.
Sleepy Eye
Voters turned down the first question that would have added a $750 per-pupil levy for seven years, generating $467,037, by a vote of 739 to 459. There were six under votes (blank ballots).
The second question, contingent upon the first, failed by a vote of 802 to 396 with three defective ballots. Had it passed, the second question would have added a $250 per-pupil levy for technological improvements.
"We appreciate all the support from everyone. We're disappointed. We'll go back to the drawing board and see what we should do next," said Sleepy Eye School Supt. John Cselovszki.
Nicollet
Voters approved extending an $800 per-pupil unit referendum that was to expire this year, by a vote of 549 to 145. There were three under votes.
An additional $300 per pupil unit levy was approved, 455 to 240 with two under votes.
Sibley East
Voters renewed an existing $600 per-pupil unit referendum for seven years by a vote of 852 to 332.
"It's really, really good news. I'm really happy people are supporting us at Sibley East," said Supt. Steve Jones.
Redwood Area Schools
Voters approved the first question, renewing an existing $500 per- pupil levy, overwhelmingly, 1,422 to 181; and approved adding a $400 per-pupil unit referendum, 1,199 to 402. Both levies are for 10 years.
GFW
Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop school district voters approved a $870 per-pupil levy that will replace a $468.19 per-pupil levy at the end of 2012, by a vote of 898 to 512.
Winthrop voters approved the levy, 307 to 209; Fairfax, 280 to 156; Gibbon, 284 to 139. There were 27 absentee ballots approving the new levy and eight against it.
The new levy will generate $387,976 that will offset a projected student enrollment decline of 45 students over the next three years, cutting revenues by more than $299,000 while fuel, energy, wage and benefit costs increase.
Buffalo Lake-
Hector-Stewart
School Board
In a hotly contested school board race. voters elected Lisa M. Taylor with 179 votes, Allen W. Schmidt 140; and Laura Girodat 134. Following were Heather Lee Winkelmann 121, and Brad Oldre 95. There were 41 under votes.
There were 2,361 registered voters at 4 p.m. Tuesday and six new registrants on Election Day.
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).