DARLINGTON - By 24 votes, residents of the Darlington school district Tuesday night passed a referendum to exceed state-imposed revenue caps.
District residents approved a four-year, $2.8 million referendum 748-724, or 50.8 percent to 49.2 percent.
The district will receive an extra $700,000 a year for four years, starting with the 2008-2009 school year.
District Administrator Joseph Galle, who was out of the district Wednesday, previously said the money is needed for general day-to-day operational expenses, such as heating fuel, electricity and paying staff salaries and benefits.
School board President Bill McDaniel and four other school board members contacted Wednesday morning could not be reached for comment.
For taxpayers, the additional $700,000 will increase the school portion of taxes by 52 cents per $1,000 of property value per year.
The tax rate would increase from $9.94 per $1,000 of valuation for this school year to $10.46 for the 2008-2009 school year.
Galle cited a growing gap between state funding and district expenses and a decline in state aid due to declining enrollment as reasons for a referendum.
The district last passed a referendum four years ago. That referendum increased spending $385,000 each year for four years, the last year being this school year. The vote to approve that referendum was about 2-to-1, Galle said.
District residents approved a four-year, $2.8 million referendum 748-724, or 50.8 percent to 49.2 percent.
The district will receive an extra $700,000 a year for four years, starting with the 2008-2009 school year.
District Administrator Joseph Galle, who was out of the district Wednesday, previously said the money is needed for general day-to-day operational expenses, such as heating fuel, electricity and paying staff salaries and benefits.
School board President Bill McDaniel and four other school board members contacted Wednesday morning could not be reached for comment.
For taxpayers, the additional $700,000 will increase the school portion of taxes by 52 cents per $1,000 of property value per year.
The tax rate would increase from $9.94 per $1,000 of valuation for this school year to $10.46 for the 2008-2009 school year.
Galle cited a growing gap between state funding and district expenses and a decline in state aid due to declining enrollment as reasons for a referendum.
The district last passed a referendum four years ago. That referendum increased spending $385,000 each year for four years, the last year being this school year. The vote to approve that referendum was about 2-to-1, Galle said.