And it’s official
Finney County’s canvassing is complete and the results of Tuesday’s election are finalized, with the USD 457 bond issue not only passing, but actually increasing its margin of win with provisional ballots factored in.
The bond issue passed with 51.43 percent of the vote, with citizens voting 4,686-4,426 in favor of the proposal. The results before counting provisionals had shown a vote count of 4,577-4,354.
No change
The provisional ballots cast for the November election won’t change the results of the USD 457 bond issue vote, which appeared Tuesday night to have passed narrowly. The Finney County Clerk’s Office hasn’t actually counted the votes yet (that will happen this afternoon), but it has determined how many of the ballots should be counted — 221.
Without the provisional ballots, the bond issue had appeared Tuesday night to pass with a 4,577-4,354 vote — a difference of 223 votes. But the county had 346 provisional ballots to consider, with some coming from Holcomb residents not eligible to vote on the bond issue.
So even if all 221 of the provisionals to be county are USD 457 residents who voted “no” on the bond issue, it would still pass by two votes.
Doesn’t look like the provisionals will change any other outcome, either, except to break a tie in Greeley County allowing sales of liquor by the drink. McCain still takes Kansas, believe it or not.
Don’t count your chickens…
It should be noted that, in spite of Tuesday night’s celebration by bond issue supporters, the proposal’s success is not guaranteed.
The bond issue passed by 223 votes based on Tuesday night’s count, but provisional ballots have yet to be counted. According to Finney County Clerk Elsa Ulrich, the county has 259 provisional ballots from those voting in the county clerk’s office and 87 from the polls. Some of each are from Holcomb or the small portions of the county in other school districts, so they wouldn’t affect the bond issue. Still, there’s the small chance it would be defeated by those votes. More info here.
Canvassing is on Monday, so results will be finalized then.
I’ll continue this blog at least that long, and will tie up some loose ends regarding fallout from the results. Then, assuming provisional ballots don’t kill the thing, stay tuned in the Telegram and online for updates on the long process of constructing a new Garden City High School, converting GCHS to a middle school, converting Abe Hubert Middle School to an elementary school and expanding Garfield Elementary School into an early childhood center.
Expected high school opening date: August 2012
Shock and awe
Well, the post title might be a little extreme, but at least great surprise — that’s what everybody I’ve talked to seems to be feeling following Tuesday’s passage of the USD 457 bond issue. All sorts of people I encountered yesterday seemed to expect before Election Day that the issue wouldn’t get the voter support it needed, especially following the recent economic downturn.
Did the fact that the issue was on a general election ballot, at a time of record voter turnout, make the difference? I admit, I thought it would hurt the district’s cause.
It seemed to me bond supporters would be able to mobilize their “yes” voters, in general, no matter when the item was on the ballot. But the presidential election, I thought, would draw out a lot of people who were uninformed or just didn’t care. They’d see a measure that would increase their taxes and, not having strong thoughts on the proposal itself, would reject it.
Some others thought differently, however, with board member John Scheopner saying he thinks the timing helped put the measure over the top. The presidential race drew out a lot of younger voters — folks who might have kids in school or at least be thinking about having children soon.
Were you surprised the bond issue passed? What factors helped give it the narrow win?
If kids ruled the world…
…bond issue supporters could have gone to bed earlier last night. In USD 457’s Kansas Kids Voting election, held on Tuesday with at least a portion of the same ballot their grown-up counterparts used, Garden City students approved the district’s $97.5 million bond issue with a 772-350 vote.
Other results:
U.S. President:
- Democrat: Barack Obama/Joe Biden — 508
- Independent: Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez — 12
- Libertarian: Bob Barr/Wayne A. Root — 14
- Reform: Chuck Baldwin/Darrell L. Castle — 20
- Republican: John McCain/Sarah Palin — 533
Real-life winner: Obama/Biden
U.S. Senate:
- Republican: Pat Roberts — 420
- Democrat: Jim Slattery — 265
- Libertarian: Randall L. Hodgkinson — 64
- Reform: Joseph L. Martin — 77
Real-life winner: Pat Roberts
U.S. House – 1st District
- Republican: Jerry Moran — 396
- Democrat: James Bordonaro — 191
- Reform: Kathleen M. Burton — 161
- Libertarian: Jack Warner — 46
Real-life winner: Jerry Moran
County Commission – District 2
- Republican: Harold D. “Dave” Jones — 227
- Democrat: Cynthia Corn — 418
Real-life winner: Dave Jones
There were 1,087 ballots cast by kindergartners through 12th-graders.
Results: Bond issues around the state
- Anthony-Harper USD 361
- $8 million to renovate and remodel three schools (Question 1)
- and to add a new auxiliary gym/FEMA storm shelter (Question 2)
- Baldwin City USD 348 – PASSED (Yes 2,087, No 1,775)
- $22.9 million for a new primary center, new auditorium, new baseball/softball complex, new practice track and technology upgrades at all schools
- DeSoto USD 232 – PASSED (Yes 8,431, No 6,729)
- $75 million to construct a new 600-student elementary school and expand two high schools
- Garden City USD 457 – PASSED (Yes 4,577 Yes, No 4,354)
- $97.5 million for a new high school, conversion of high school to a middle school, conversion of a middle school to an elementary school and expansion of an elementary school into an early childhood center
- Herington USD 487
- $29 million for additions to the middle and high school; a new elementary school, auditorium, gymnasium and track/football facility; remodeling and renovations at sports complex; and tornado shelters
- Holton USD 336
- $21.3 million to construct a new elementary school and an agricultural education building at the high school, plus to repair an exterior wall at the high school
- Hugoton USD 210 – PASSED (Yes 1,278, No 529)
- $21 million for renovations at the middle school, middle/high school cafeteria area and athletic facilities, plus a new early childhood center
- Leavenworth USD 453 – PASSED (62 percent of the vote)
- $57.8 million for upgrades/expansions at two elementary schools and the high school, construction of a new elementary school and creation of a new activities complex on the high school campus
- Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 – PASSED (Yes 13,603 votes, No 6,206)
- $97.5 million to renovate, remodel and repair 24 buildings in the district, and to add classrooms
- Marysville USD 364
- $25 million for additions to elementary, junior/senior high school and stadium
- Olathe USD 233 – PASSED (59 percent of the vote)
- $68 million to pay for additions and renovations at the district’s four high schools
- Sabetha USD 441
- $8.3 million for expansions and improvements at high school and kindergarten-through-12th-grade facility
- Sterling USD 376
- $20.4 million to expand and renovate high school and to replace grade school
- Wichita USD 259 – PASSED (Yes 56,155, No 54,538)
- $370 million for six new schools and 275 new classrooms at other buildings
Atha: “It reaffirms my faith back in the community.”
Garden City voters narrowly passed a $97.5 million bond issue that will provide the district with a new high school, according to unofficial results from the Finney County Clerk’s Office.
Bond supporters cheered and hugged at the Educational Support Center to Board of Education President Mike Utz’s announcement that more than 51 percent of voters favored the issue. The vote count was 4,577-4,354, with provisional ballots yet to be counted.
The bond issue funds the board’s long range facility plan, which has been more than a year in the making. It was developed after talks of overcrowding at Garden City High School, where 14 teachers use carts instead of classrooms to hold their materials and where students take courses in 11 trailer classrooms.
It entails construction of a new, 2,000-student high school with room for expansion to house 2,500 students, conversion of the main Garden City High School building into a middle school, conversion of Abe Hubert Middle School into an elementary school and expansion of Garfield Elementary School into an early childhood center.
Superintendent Rick Atha said the results were “exciting,” because the bond issue offers “an opportunity for us to meet the educational needs of our kids for 20 to 25 years if we don’t have unexpected growth.”
“It reaffirms my faith back in the community,” Atha said of the vote. “If they get the information, they’ll step up to the plate.”
Hugoton bond issue
In Hugoton
Yes: 1278
No: 529
There was little doubt in Hugoton Tuesday night that voters supported a $21 million bond issue for middle school and high school improvements, plus construction of an early childhood center.
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The bond issue scored about 71 percent of the vote there, with an unofficial vote count of 1,278-529.
“I’m looking forward to the future of what this means for our students,” Superintendent Mark Crawford said.
According to project plans, the bond issue will fund a new wing at Hugoton Middle School, replacing one district officials have said has problems with leaks and mold; a cafeteria/commons area adjoining the middle school and high school; an athletics addition including a wrestling room and weight room; and a separate early childhood center.
The district plans to supplement the project cost, estimated at $22,857,000, with its capital outlay fund, a portion of the regular budget dedicated toward buildings and equipment.
See Wednesday’s issue of the Telegram for further coverage.
Mood at board office: nervous but upbeat
All but advance ballots are counted and yes votes are about 300 ahead.
