Despite spending several thousands of dollars, it wasn’t enough to convince Blue Earth Area School District voters to approve a $66.846 million bond referendum.
“An estimated cost for all of the education materials — print, videos, information boards and et cetera —- was just shy of $18,000,” says Mandy Fletcher, superintendent of Blue Earth Area School District.
Election results show a ballot question calling for construction of a new K-6 elementary school and improvements at the high school was overwhelmingly defeated.
The referendum was rejected by nearly 1,000 votes, with 2,604 “no” votes to 1,655 “yes” votes.
In fact, of the 24 voting precincts in BEA School District, only Brush Creek Township voted 12 to 5 in favor of the bond.
In Winnebago, there were 425 voting no and 222 yes. The vote in Delavan was 56 no to 41 yes and the result in Elmore was 151 no to 84 yes.
In all three wards in Blue Earth, the referendum did not pass. In Ward 1, the vote was 308 no to 244 yes; Ward 2, 329 no to 313 yes; and Ward 3, 316 no to 242 yes.
If and when district officials decide to hold another referendum vote, some of the cost will be paid for.
“The amount for pre-referendum work amounted to $10,000,” says Flecther. “That amount would be deducted from any future projects if the district uses ISG for any potential future referendum work.”
Vote totals in other precincts
Sterling Township 0 Yes , 1 No
Rome Township 18, 49
Barber Township 39, 89
Seely Township 1, 2
Blue Earth TWP 77, 125
Verona Township 26, 70
Delavan Township 60, 126
Walnut Lake TWP 0, 1
Elmore Township 46, 61
Winnebago Township 22, 63
Emerald Township 48, 95
Nashville Township 6, 8
Frost 39, 74
Jo Daviess Township 44, 79
Lura Township 17, 41
Pilot Grove Township 18, 47
Prescott Township 36, 83