BLANCHARDVILLE - A referendum that ultimately will add $350,000 to the amount the Pecatonica school district can levy each year narrowly passed by a 369-344 vote Tuesday.

The referendum asked voters to allow the district to exceed state-imposed revenue limits by $175,000 in the 2008-2009 school year, with an additional $175,000 in 2009-2010 as a recurring expense. Thereafter the district will be authorized to exceed the state revenue limit by $350,000 for as long as necessary.

The additional money is needed to maintain the current level of staffing and curriculum, as well as address maintenance and technology needs, interim District Administrator David Westhoff said.

Site work is needed, especially at the Hollandale elementary school facility. The district also has a five-year technology plan it developed that will cost about $350,000 over its duration. On top of those expenses, the district was projecting an $80,000 to $90,000 budget shortfall each year.

The referendum gives the district "the ability to operate at our current staffing level," Westhoff said, adding if the referendum had failed, the district would have been forced to consider staff or programming cuts.

Westhoff said there wasn't a lot of community discussion about the referendum before the vote.

"There was not a great deal of conversation," he said. "We held basically three forums that weren't attended by a great number of people."

He was pleased with the results, even though the victory was slim.

"Regardless of the margin, it's a significant moment for the Pecatonica school district," he said. "It speaks volumes of the support the community gives education."

Still, he said he understands why people might have voted against the increased school spending.

"It was a difficult vote," he said. A no vote wasn't "voting against education, but voicing a financial situation they find difficult to maintain," a position Westhoff said he can respect.

A board of canvassers will verify vote totals this afternoon.