DARLINGTON - By a handful of votes, Darlington residents passed a five-year operational referendum on Tuesday.
The final tally was 559 in favor of the referendum and 553 against.
The strongest support came from the city of Darlington, where 288 voters were in favor of the measure and 204 were against. The measure was defeated in each of the townships that make up the school district, except Willow Springs where the vote was tied at 65-65.
The referendum allows the district to exceed its revenue limit by $800,000 this school year; and then by $1.7 million for 2017-18; $1.8 million for 2018-19; $1.85 million for 2019-20; and $1.9 million for 2020-21.
Darlington school district voters rejected a $2.2 million recurring referendum in April.
The final tally was 559 in favor of the referendum and 553 against.
The strongest support came from the city of Darlington, where 288 voters were in favor of the measure and 204 were against. The measure was defeated in each of the townships that make up the school district, except Willow Springs where the vote was tied at 65-65.
The referendum allows the district to exceed its revenue limit by $800,000 this school year; and then by $1.7 million for 2017-18; $1.8 million for 2018-19; $1.85 million for 2019-20; and $1.9 million for 2020-21.
Darlington school district voters rejected a $2.2 million recurring referendum in April.