In the end the margin was close, just 69 votes, but a record turnout yesterday of Mountain Home School District voters resulted in a revised 2.95 mill tax proposal being approved to finance a $34.2 million dollar building and renovation program. The final, but unofficial tally, had 3,231 voting in favor and 3,162 opposed. Percentage wise it was 50.54 percent in favor, 49.46 against. Seven months ago district voters soundly rejected by a 64 to 36 percent margin a 3.75 mill increase to finance the most comprehensive building program in district history. That issue failed to carry any voting precincts with a then record 26 percent casting ballots. Yesterday, nearly 28 percent of the eligible voters turned out and the amended proposal, using a strong showing at Mountain Home voting precincts, carried in seven of the 14 precincts. The approval, which also includes refinancing of a 2003 bond issue, allows the district to issue just over $41 million dollars in bonds to finance a number of projects with the key element being a new $18 million dollar elementary school to house grades 3, 4 and 5 taking pressure off three other schools. It also keeps the district from having to look at possibly cutting programs to finance state facility requirements.
Grassroots support lifts
MH millage plan, superintendent says Mountain Home School Superintendent Charles Scriber says the margin of victory was small in yesterday's school tax election, but the win by 69 votes was big for the district's students and residents. What made the difference seven months after voters crushed a larger millage plan? Scriber said the school board responded with a scaled-back construction and renovation plan funded by a smaller tax increase. He also cited vocal and active citizen support. “We had many, many people helping us and supporting us and out there putting up signs and talking to people, calling people. We had just a grass-roots effort that really helped us put us over the top. It was very close and now we know that every vote counts.” Scriber thanked the plan's supporters, including district employees, parents, the school board, the Mountain Home chamber leadership group, and the Citizens for Alliance for Responsible Education or CARE, a local group formed in support the proposal. School Board President Bob Byrd also cited CARE's impact. “The CARE organization really stepped in and gave our arguments some credibility. You know, we went through the first process with the board and the administration trying to get these points across and when we got the community involved, I think it gave a feeling of credibility and believability over what was being said about us.” CARE fundraising chairman Mike Stockton said he was amazed at the turnaround victory compared to the overwhelming defeat of the previous proposal. Stockton said CARE had influence with voters because its members represent a cross-section of the community. “This wasn’t a partisan issue. It wasn’t a Democrat versus Republican. It wasn’t a rich versus poor. It wasn’t a retiree versus a non-retiree. This was a community issue, and we were representing the community. And so, I think it’s just natural that that got hurt.” The Baxter County Friends of the Taxpayers opposed the plan. The organization was also against the district's previous tax proposal. Frank Kaye is the group's director. “We’re disappointed that we had such a turnaround. But the voters have spoken and that’s what makes this country great. We all get a chance to say what we want to say, and we get a chance to vote on what we believe in."
School bond issue passes A special school election to fund a $34.25 million construction project for the Mountain Home School District passed by an unofficial margin of 69 votes Tuesday night. A similar larger construction project and tax proposal failed by 1,683 votes last September. Mountain Home Schools Superintendent Dr. Charles Scriber called the outcome a "red letter day" for the school district. Scriber credited the school board for bringing voters around in favor of the project through the board's willingness to downsize the project. He said a grassroots effort in support of the construction plan led by the Citizens Alliance for Responsible Education was also instrumental in turning voter sentiment around. District employees were onboard, too, Scriber said. |
