Caledonia Argus

Voters strong in support of levy referendum

Posted: 12/23/02

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

The ISD #299 operating levy referendum was passed on December 17, with 1244 (61.7%) of district poll-goers voting in favor of the levy.

ìIím elated that it went through in such a solid fashion,î said District Superintendent Jim Tool. ìThe 61.7% is more than what I could have hoped for. I have to compliment the great committee (the ISD #299 Referendum Steering Committee) that worked on thisñ theyíve done a tremendous jobñ as well as many others who worked on it.î

The result of the referendum hung in the balance after the initial returns from Brownsville, Eitzen, and Freeburg, but final tallies showed overwhelming support for the levy from Caledonia voters. Of the 1430 voting at the Caledonia polling station, 945 checked ìyesî in support of the levy.

Just over half of all district residents who were registered to vote in the election showed up at the polls. 3790 voters were registered prior to December 17, and it was estimated that a handful registered on December 17. Of these, 2014 made it to the polls on Tuesday.

Emotions ran high at the district office when the election results were released just before 11 p.m. Tuesday night, and school officials were quick to show their appreciation of referendum supporters.

ìI am so happy for the kids and the staff of this district,î said board member Barb Hurley. ìThank you to the taxpayers and all the hard workers that got the word out there, and to the board members for sticking together, and to Dr. Tool for his fantastic leadership throughout this whole thing.î

Board member Suzanne Roesler added, ìItís a good moment, considering all the district has gone through; it has been a long couple years, and right now I am very proud to serve the district.î

Caledonia Area Elementary Principal Connie Hesse also expressed gratitude to voters and to those who were pivotal in drumming up support for the operating levy, noting, ìIíd like to extend a genuine ëthank youí to everyone who voted for the referendum and to the referendum committee; it was very much a team effort.î

Board members and district officials underscored the strong influence the ISD #299 Referendum Steering Committee had in swaying public opinion in favor of the operating levy. Formed in June 2002, the committeeís aim was to inform the public about the referendum and to facilitate communication between the public and the school board. This fall, the committee administered a survey to a sample of district residents in order to ascertain what type of referendum the public was most likely to support; results of the survey played a key role in the school boardís decision to set the operating levy duration at five years, rather than 10.

ìThe committee worked to find out what the public was thinking, attempted to answer questions being asked by the public, and worked to get the school board to listen to what the public was saying,î said committee member Miles Miller. ìWeíre very pleased with the results of the election and the trust that the community has placed in the school board by passing the referendum.î

Committee member Naomi Fruechte added, ìThe committee represented citizens, was out listening to citizens, out talking to citizens, and I think that all helped. Our role was to determine the opinions, attitudes, and feelings of the public; the whole group worked very well as a team,î and the result of the December 17 referendum, she noted, ìwas terrific.î

The five-year operating levy will generate approximately $818,000 in additional revenue for ISD #299 in 2003-2004. Roughly $434,000 of this amount will be paid by local taxpayers, with the state contributing about $380,000.

District officials have indicated these funds will be allocated to items such as curriculum development, staff development, technology updates, and general fund balance improvement. $300,000 from the levy will go toward health and safety items, since the school board elected not to impose the $643,400 health and safety levy, of which district residents would have paid approximately $580,000, if the operating levy referendum passed.

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