Jackson may adjust bond for new vote

In the end, 704 more people voted for Jackson School District's bond issue than against it last week.

But even 704 votes weren't enough for the $27 million issue to pass under the four-sevenths majority vote required.

Now, district officials are discussing a way to avoid the four-sevenths rule through a method requiring only 50 percent voter approval while still providing the needed money for revamping and building additions at Jackson High School.

"The key is we tried about everything we could think of to get people informed," said Dr. Ron Anderson, Jackson superintendent. "But the pattern is what we've historically seen in prior elections."

Anderson said district officials may consider altering the current proposal, but are also looking at a lease-purchase agreement.

"Right now, we're carefully reviewing the options of when we could take this issue forward again," Anderson said.

Anderson's main concern is interest rates. Every 1 percent increase in interest rates means an additional $4.5 million is needed to pay for the $27 million project. The cost of construction materials will also increase the longer the project is put off.

"If there's a way of moving forward, because it's such an urgent issue, we need to look at the options of doing that," he said.

When voters support general obligation bonds -- what Jackson educators have proposed -- it allows the school district to borrow money.

The difference between general obligation bonds and lease-purchase agreements is financial security, said Tom Quinn, interim director of school finance with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. If assessed valuation drops or similar financial hardships occur, general obligation bonds allow school districts to raise taxes without voter approval to pay the bonds. Lease-purchase agreements don't permit raising taxes. Districts must find additional money from other sources, such as the operating levy.

Factors influencing Jackson's decision are the district's steady assessed valuation in recent years, and lease-purchase agreements require only a 50 percent approval by voters. A lease-purchase question could be placed on the election ballot as early as August.

Spring 2006 is the earliest the district would consider putting the general obligation bond issue on another ballot.

It was once again areas outside the city that prevented Jackson School District's bond issue from passing last week, but administrators say they're already looking at other options to pay for a new high school.

Nine precincts -- Oak Ridge, Gordonville, Whitewater, Burfordville, Oriole/Neelys Landing, Fruitland, New Wells, Pocahontas and Millersville -- did not pass the measure outright. Three -- Byrd 5/Byrd 6, Campster/Pecan Grove and Byrd 4 -- had more than 50 percent approval but not the 57.14 needed for a four-sevenths majority vote.

The final vote tally was 3,664 to 2,960, which is 55.3 percent in favor of the bond issue. If 121 of the 6,624 people who cast ballots voted "yes" instead of "no," the bond would have passed.

"We know the support is out there because the majority of people voted for this," Anderson said. "It's just that 4,000 'yes' voters didn't show up. It's the apathy side of it."

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128