SOUTH WAYNE - The Black Hawk school district's recurring referendum seeking $250,000 for operational expenses failed Tuesday with 724 total votes against the ballot measure and 362 in favor.
District Administrator Willy Chambers said he is "disappointed," but that the school will continue to provide quality education and create opportunities for students.
"We were not asking for money the district doesn't need," Chambers said. "We have some time to come back to the voters, but for now we will maintain our programming and kids will get the same great service for the next few years."
The district sought to increase its revenue cap with the referendum to allow it to purchase a bus and update computer technology. The district purchased 50 new computers this year and is looking to allow for future upgrades.
Multiple staff cuts and reducing hours for staff positions over the past few years have helped ease costs, but Chambers said the district still needed the referendum money.
The failure of the referendum will reduce the tax rate for the 2014-15 school year to $9.60 per $1,000 of equalized assessed value from $10.12 this year. The decrease in the tax rate means a home valued at $100,000 will cost a homeowner $959 in school taxes. The referendum would have increased the tax rate to $11.09.
The recurring referendum would have exceeded the state imposed revenue cap by $250,000 annually until it was deemed the money is no longer needed. This year's revenue cap is at $3.96 million.
The district passed a three-year non-recurring referendum in 2007 after a failed attempt to pass a recurring referendum. Attempts to pass recurring and non-recurring referendums failed in 2010.
District Administrator Willy Chambers said he is "disappointed," but that the school will continue to provide quality education and create opportunities for students.
"We were not asking for money the district doesn't need," Chambers said. "We have some time to come back to the voters, but for now we will maintain our programming and kids will get the same great service for the next few years."
The district sought to increase its revenue cap with the referendum to allow it to purchase a bus and update computer technology. The district purchased 50 new computers this year and is looking to allow for future upgrades.
Multiple staff cuts and reducing hours for staff positions over the past few years have helped ease costs, but Chambers said the district still needed the referendum money.
The failure of the referendum will reduce the tax rate for the 2014-15 school year to $9.60 per $1,000 of equalized assessed value from $10.12 this year. The decrease in the tax rate means a home valued at $100,000 will cost a homeowner $959 in school taxes. The referendum would have increased the tax rate to $11.09.
The recurring referendum would have exceeded the state imposed revenue cap by $250,000 annually until it was deemed the money is no longer needed. This year's revenue cap is at $3.96 million.
The district passed a three-year non-recurring referendum in 2007 after a failed attempt to pass a recurring referendum. Attempts to pass recurring and non-recurring referendums failed in 2010.