COUNTY VOTERS SPURN MEASURE

Voters in Cape Girardeau County Tuesday resoundingly rejected Proposition B, the $385 million tax-and-reform measure for education.

In Cape Girardeau County, the measure was defeated by a 70-30 percent margin, 4,324 for to 10,053 against.

In the surrounding counties of Bollinger, Scott, Perry and Stoddard, voters also overwhelmingly defeated Proposition B.

Voters rejected the measure by a vote of 1,722 to 417 in Bollinger County, 4,858 to 1,916 in Scott County, 1,941 to 667 in Perry County, and 3,640 to 1,282 in Stoddard County.

The numbers mirrored the vote statewide where Proposition B was soundly defeated.

The measure carried in only two of 16 wards in the city of Cape Girardeau, the home of Southeast Missouri State University.

It carried in Wards 4 and 5, which includes the university campus area. Out of 37 precincts in Cape Girardeau County, those two city wards were the only ones where the measure carried.

The university was a big backer of Proposition B. Spurred on by the measure, 1,806 students and 119 university employees had registered to vote in an on-campus registration drive this fall.

University officials said a number of students voted in the election. Some students living on campus were provided transportation to the polls.

A handful of university officials and students were on hand at the University Center lobby Tuesday night, where election results by precinct in Cape Girardeau County were posted on a chalkboard.

From the outset, there was little to cheer about. At one point, a faint-hearted cheer went up when it was announced that Ward 4 voters had approved the measure.

University officials voiced surprise and disappointment at the devastating defeat of Proposition B.

"This kind of reminds me of how Alf Landon lost," said Kala Stroup, Southeast's president, drawing a parallel to the 1936 defeat of the Republican presidential candidate.

"We are very disappointed," said Art Wallhausen, assistant to the president at Southeast. "We think Proposition B was a good measure for education in the state of Missouri. It was desperately needed for higher education in Missouri."

Wallhausen said he believes the vote reflected voters' dislike of taxes and distrust of state political leaders, who had strongly backed Proposition B.

"I don't think it means voters are anti-education," said Wallhausen. "I think it means voters are anti-tax."

He said Missouri citizens continually raised the issue of the state lottery, where voters believed the money would go to education only to find out that it was going into the state's general revenue fund.

Voters, he said, felt they had been deceived on that issue, and so they questioned where the state money would go under Proposition B.

Stroup expressed surprise that local voters would overwhelmingly reject Proposition B. "I can't image anyone voting down an industry that brings in $90 million a year (to the local economy)," said Stroup, referring to the university's economic impact.

"I would have expected in the counties throughout the state with universities, it would have passed, at least," she said.

Both Wallhausen and Stroup said that without increased state funding, Southeast will have to increase tuition charges and look at cutting services.

Scott City Superintendent Bob Brison acknowledged that many public school teachers were against the measure.

"I think this thing was put together at the 11th hour and included a lot of compromises at the pushing of higher education," he said. "In so doing, they failed to address some of the real needs of elementary and secondary education."

Brison said, "One of the big sticking points has been how the Proposition B money would be distributed among the local school districts." Plans called for distribution of money on the basis of a revised formula that the legislature has yet to draft.

Brison said he believes the legislature will seek to revamp the foundation formula next year, which could cause a shift in funding but little real increase in state aid for schools.

Neyland Clark, Cape Girardeau public schools superintendent, issued a brief statement from the administration and Board of Education. "Although Proposition B has not passed, we still feel there is a tremendous amount of concern and support for public education in the state of Missouri."

Wayne Maupin, Jackson schools superintendent, said, "I think it's very unfortunate for the school kids of Missouri that Proposition B has failed.

"Many districts will experience extreme financial difficulties that local boards of education will have to wrestle with."

Maupin said, "Proposition B was a sincere effort to address the financial needs of the schools in Missouri.

"I'm disappointed that the voters of Missouri failed to recognize and realize the difficulties facing our schools in our state," said Maupin. "The bottom line is kids will suffer the consequences."