School mill levy vote fails

Carrington School District voters were nearly split down the middle at Tuesday's special election.

On the ballot was one question: Should the school board have the authority to increase the building fund levy from 5 to 10 mills?

According to unofficial results released Tuesday evening, the measure failed to garner the 60 percent support necessary to pass. With 341 total votes cast, the tally was as follows:

• 176 yes votes, or 51.61 percent.

• 165 no votes, or 48.39 percent.

The votes will be canvassed and results made official at a special meeting on Wednesday, July 17 at 8 p.m. in the middle school library.

The school board's regular monthly meeting was underway when the results came in that evening, and no other discussion was held regarding the election results or the board's next steps in light of the measure's failure.

This was newly-elected board member Joseph Irmen's first meeting, and was also the annual reorganizational meeting for the board. Irmen was appointed to the transportation and technology standing committees.

Joel Lemer was re-elected president, and Angela Kutz was elected to serve as vice president, taking the place of outgoing board member Kevin Wolsky.

Members reviewed the financial reports, and the general fund balance at the close of fiscal year 2023-24 was $2,765,020.29, which included $49,400 that was transferred from the special reserve fund to the general fund. Members got their first look at the 2024-25 budget, which calls for a second year of deficit spending to further reduce the healthy general fund balance. With expenses expected to have a slight bump of 1.65 percent, the budget as it stands is $382,000 in the red. On the revenue side, the district plans to again refrain from levying miscellaneous mills. They are allowed to levy up to 12 miscellaneous mills, but have budgeted to levy 0 mills for the second year in a year.

The district would have a balanced budget if they were levying the miscellaneous mills, Superintendent Janelle Helm noted.

In other business, board members approved a recommendation to increase meal prices by 5 cents this year. Even with the increase, Carrington's prices are low in comparison to other districts in the state, officials say.

All other school fees and activity tickets, as well as Cardinal insurance premiums for district-owned devices, will stay the same.

Helm also opened two bids for a new route bus budgeted for the 2024-25 year. After review, the board moved to accept the lower bid from I-State, which totaled $144,525. The action will add a 2026 Thomas bus to the school's fleet.

The next regular meeting is set for Tuesday, August 13 at 7 p.m.