–Administrators in the Emmetsburg School District will push on with plans for a new elementary school despite the results of a special election Tuesday.
Voters rejected a public measure that would have allowed the district to increase their debt levy limit. The school district currently has the authority to levy up to $2.70 per $1,000 of taxable property value for debt service. The ballot measure rejected on Tuesday would have allowed for that limit to increase to $4.05 per $1,000.
A total of 740 ballots were cast, with nearly 59% (435) voting against the measure, which would have needed 60% approval to pass.
Superintendent Corey Jenness tells KLGA News that the process will go on, saying “the board firmly believes that building a new elementary school, in lieu of fixing the current elementary building, is the best use of taxpayer money.”
The vote on Tuesday was one part of the process, the second will come in November when voters are to decide on a measure that would allow the district to issue general obligation bonds for the new elementary building.
Jenness also says “We will continue educating the citizens of Emmetsburg and doing what we feel is best for our students and community going forward.”
The district announced the purchase of approximately 24-acres of land near the Iowa Lakes Community College campus in Emmetsburg back in July. That land would be used to construct a new elementary building to replace the aging West Elementary building the district currently operates.
