ISD 361 referendum gets two thumbs up
The majority of School District 361 taxpayers who voted Tuesday have approved a 10-year extension of a 2001 referendum that authorizes the school to continue to draw those tax-levied revenues.
The passing of this issue will bring no new district-levied tax increases beyond the approved 2001 referendum.
In addition, voters have also approved a 10-year school referendum to fund youth activities which will add slight increases to the property taxes of residents in the district.
Results for Ballot Question No.1 on continuing the 2001 referendum were 1,096 people voting “yes,” and 410 people voting “no.”
Results for Ballot Question No. 2 on funding youth activities were 1,002 “yes” votes and 503 “no” votes. The approval of youth activities funding was contingent upon the passing of Question No.1.
There are 5,510 registered voters in the district, according to Sue Karsnia of the superintendent’s office. The youth activities funding appeared to be the wild card in the election but two-thirds of the total number of voters were in favor on both questions. A fall campaign led by chairwoman Gail Rasmussen included radio and newspaper advertising to support the referendum.
The Backus voting poll saw voters coming and going all through the day. A ballot count was readily available after the poll closed at 8 p.m. due to the convenience of an electronic ballot counter.
Shortly following the count, a pleased Superintendent Don Langan spoke to The Daily Journal by phone and said that good voter participation on a single ballot with such positive results “reaffirmed everything.”
“It’s just so reaffirming,” Langan said. “For the stability of the district and for the long haul — this is an important night.”
