Referendum passes

By RACHEL WEDDIG

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The voters have decided.

The District 88 operating levy passed Tuesday by a margin of 157 votes.

There were 3,144 yes votes, and 2,987 no votes.

There are approximately 12,000 registered voters in the district. More than 6,100 voters cast ballots.

District 88 Superintendent Harold Remme was relieved and pleased for the school system and community of New Ulm.

"We'll be looking over the results more later at the board meeting," he said, adding that he was also pleased with the large voter turnout.

By precinct, New Ulm voters cast 2,899 yes and 2,784 no ballots. In Hanska, the margin was 140 yes to 91 no votes. In Lafayette, the levy received 112 no votes, and 105 yes votes.

The district was seeking to raise $450 per pupil unit for 10 years. This would have generated $1.2 million for the general fund in 2002-2003. The amount generated would vary for each of the 10 years due to declining enrollment.

The district was seeking an operating referendum because of what school officials said is inadequate state funding to keep pace with inflation, enrollment decline, increased utility costs, increased health insurance costs and employee compensation costs.

Election judges said that the middle school was busy with voters in the early morning and late evening.

The district's last referendum in May of 2000 failed. In that vote, there were 3,656 "no" votes, or about 63 percent of those voting; and 2,154 "yes" votes, or about about 37 percent of those voting. The number of people who voted represented about 51 percent of the registered voters in the district.

As a result of the failed 2000 referendum, officials cut $1.3 million from its budget for this year that included significant reductions in staffing administration, business services, teachers and classroom supplies.

With the approved referendum the district has projected to restore class sizes to improve teacher-student ratio, to provide revenues for improving technology uses in classrooms, maintain secondary program options, reinstate facility maintenance and upkeep and maintain activity options without further increasing fees.

If the referendum had failed, the district projected that class sizes would increase, selected secondary programs would be eliminated if they are not required for graduation, all-day kindergarten would be eliminated and more staff positions and selected activity programs would be cut.