For Dunklin R-5 school district officials, Election Day was a case of déjà vu.
On Nov. 8, the district’s bid for a 62-cent property tax increase to make capital improvements was narrowly defeated for the second time in three months.
The district sought funding on Nov. 8 for $13 million in improvements to address overcrowded classrooms and security issues.
Voters turned down the measure with 2,194 voters saying no and 2,072 voters saying yes, a difference of 122 votes.
In the Aug. 2 election, with a much smaller voter turnout, the district was 66 votes short of passing the measure, with 878 against and 812 in favor.
The Dunklin school board was scheduled to meet Tuesday night, after the Leader deadline. The agenda called for the board to discuss possible steps going forward.
Superintendent Stan Stratton said the vote indicated that taxpayers weren’t prepared to foot the bill.
“What it comes down to is that this is a tax increase and the burden this puts on the taxpayer,” he said.
The cost to the owner of a home valued by the Jefferson County Assessor’s Office at $100,000 would have been an extra $117.80 annually.
The measure, if approved, would have expanded Pevely Elementary School, renovated the Herculaneum High School gymnasium, relocated the bus garage, built new entrances at Pevely Elementary and Senn-Thomas Middle School, connected the Taylor Early Childhood Center and the Butterfly Wing and renovated high school science rooms.
Stratton said the needs have not gone away.
“(At Pevely Elementary) we still have four modular classrooms, multiple teachers are doubled up and every space is being used. The needs are there,” Stratton said. “The board is going to have to decide what the options are to meet those needs.”
He said all the projects are important.
“All of them need to be done. The board will have to decide how and when we do them,” he said.
Stratton said he was glad to see the support the district did receive.
“I appreciate all those who supported the measure, and I thank those who supported the school district,” he said.
-- Tracey Bruce
