BY JONATHAN CANNON AND K. MCSTAY
HERALD DEMOCRAT
Voter results were mixed Tuesday in Fannin and Grayson counties as citizens went to the polls to decide on bonds, rollback elections and a public option on liquor sales in various places throughout Texoma.
S&S CISD
S&S Consolidated Independent School District voters gave the district a financial boost Tuesday.
Voters approved the $6.5 million bond 383 for and 296 against, which will, among other things, refurbish the elementary and middle school gyms adding air conditioning to both facilities.
"In tough economic times, I would say (the volunteers who helped with the election) did an outstanding job," said CISD Superintendent Robert Steeber. "The students of this district just had a great victory tonight."
Steeber said the board would likely be able to canvass the results by Wednesday pending a single provisional ballot that was cast.
In a previous interview, Steeber said the most of the money -- $4.3 million -- will go to improvements at the elementary. The district also plans to use $435,000 for refurbishment at the middle school and $1.3 million for improvements at the high school.
The passage will mean a 12.9 cents per $100 valuation tax increase until 2017, when it will drop by 9 cents per $100 valuation until the bond is repaid. Steeber said the drop in 2017 is thanks to the Qualified School Construction Bond Program, which provides low- to zero-interest bond financing to qualifying schools. The program is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the district was approved for it early in October.
Gunter ISD
Gunter ISD passed a proposed tax ratification election Tuesday night, with 392 number of voters turning out, 74.9 percent of whom voted for the tax ratification.
In total, the district was asking its voters for a 3-cent tax increase. Though they were going for the full 13-cent increase in the Maintenance and Operation allowed by state law, thereby increasing state funding, the district was also able to lower their Interest and Sinking tax rate by 10 cents.
"We can maximize state funding," said GISD Superintendent Kevin Worthy. Previously, Worthy said the increase in funding would go to increase staff salaries and improve classroom technology in the district. Currently, he said, the district, which borders Celina, is having problems retaining teachers, as districts in Collin County have the ability to pay more. The increase, he said, would put Gunter toward the middle of the salary ranking.
"I'm very encouraged with the turn-out," Worthy said. "I really would like to thank the Gunter community for their support."
Howe
Citizens in Howe voted to pass a local option that would allow the legal sale of all alcoholic beverages including mixed drinks. After a petition circulated around the town and a request to the Grayson County Commissioner's Court, 250 people turned out, passing the option, 165 for versus 85 against.
Howe city officials could not be reached for comment.
Bonham ISD
Bonham ISD voters turned down a $40-million bond, 1,201 against to 521 for. In a previous interview, BISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse said the money would have helped realign some of the district's grade levels.
Finley-Oates Elementary would have housed kindergarten through fourth grade; I.W. Evans would have been home to fifth and sixth grades and share a space with L.H. Rather, which would have been the home of seventh and eighth grade.
Cruse said this realignment would have balanced the numbers more evenly among the campuses and the move of fifth and sixth graders is also necessary because of limited acreage on the Finley-Oates Elementary campus. The money would have also been used to create a number of new specialty classrooms, a gym and other renovations.
Cruse could not be reached for comment on the results.
Ector ISD
Ector ISD voters turned down a rollback election that would have generated an extra $200,000 per year. Voters voted 59 for to 89 against.
EISD Superintendent Gary Bohannon said the extra income would have been used to correct the $100,000 projected deficit for this year's budget and help rebuild a reserve.
In a previous interview, Bohannon said the district will continue with this year's set budget, and look for ways to make savings cut next year.
Bohannon declined to comment after the election, and said he would be meeting with the district's board before making any plans.