AUSTIN, MN---Austin taxpayers will not see an increase in their property taxes.
In the November 3 election, there were actually more votes for yes, 758 to be exact, but it only added up to a 48 percent majority, with 712 voting no.
So the operating levy referendum has not passed this year for Austin Public Schools.
And that would have brought in $1.09 million from the community.
If it had passed, taxpayers would have been expected to pay an additional $84 dollars a year on an average $100,000 home. Austin Schools say they really needed the monetary boost for future budget planning and the economy may have been a factor for some voters. School Board Chair Don Fox doesn't expect to see any programs have to be cut this school year, but says by next November they definitely will need the money, as an old levy will expire in November 2010 and state funding continues to diminish.
But Fox also says the board is taking this levy referendum failing, as a challenge to do better next year on a plan.
Fox says a lot of people were expecting the referendum to go through, "I think we were all surprised. I was certainly surprised. I think that our school system has been very accountable." They are already formulating data to see where they can improve.
Fox doesn't believe that a lack of information to the voters is the issue though, he says that's evidenced by the fact that the vote was so close.
He says voters should expect to see this issue on ballots in 2010, and at that time they will likely be rolling a few operating levies into one, much like they intended to do with this year's proposed referendum.
He also wanted to thank the outgoing Board members for their great service, referencing 18 year member David Simonson and also Mary Kleis, who both lost along with newcomer Jeff Ollman.
New candidate Aaron Keenan won a big majority, along with newcomer Jeff Kritzer now on the board and returning member Richard Lees, the three filled the contended seats.
