Monroe County school referendum passes by slim margin

Voters said "yes" to an MCCSC referendum that will increase property taxes to fund preschool education and school-related student expenses.

The vote was close: 50.5% of 10,350 votes cast were in favor and 49.5% against. The margin of victory was 108 votes.

Poll workers at several county voting sites, where the referendum was the only thing on the ballot, were surprised at the turnout in an election with no political races on the ballot.

By 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, 123 voters had come to The Family Life Worship Center to cast a ballot for or against a referendum for the Monroe County Community School Corp.

Poll workers had seen a steady stream of voters all morning. "At one point, we had a line of six," Washington Township poll inspector Susan Adam said. "We've had a lot more than we expected."

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Some voters said "no" to the referendum because they don't want their property taxes to increase. Others voted yes because they support public education.

Most of the $8.5 million in annual referendum funds would expand local preschool education, an investment that proponents say will result in a better educated community.

Opponents say the tax increase comes too soon after last year's school referendum and during inflationary times when everything costs more. Some also say school system leaders have not been transparent about plans for the money.

Initial vote totals announced 90 minutes after the polls closed foretold the end result: of the 5,596 votes counted then, 55% were for the referendum. The margin grew smaller as more votes were tallied.

At the Harrodsburg Community Center on Popcorn Road, where Clear Creek Township voters cast ballots, 83-year-old Frank Riley was the 101st voter of the day. Riley came out to support the school system, and said money for pre-kindergarten learning is important.

Twenty-year-old Riley Morris voted there as well. She said she expected contested races to be on the ballot. "I thought there was going to be more to it," she said.

Morris attended MCCSC schools: Summit Elementary, Batchelor Middle School and Bloomington High School South. She voted in favor of the referendum. "It felt good to support the schools," she said.

Poll inspector Megan Wilson said a voter was at the door at 6 a.m. and they continued to trickle in. "With no candidates on the ballot, we didn't know what to expect," she said.

In Indian Creek Township, 91 voters had been through the Lions Club building by 3:30 Tuesday afternoon. Dan Hancock was one of them. He said taxes on his home and 21 acres have doubled over the past three years.

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He voted "no" on the referendum, citing the one passed just last year as enough for now.

At Unionville Elementary School, Bloomington High School North English teacher Hillary Frye enthusiastically voted in favor of the referendum. So did her mom, Kim Eakins, who came with her to vote. "We're always for public education," Frye said.

Their "yes" votes were countered by votes against the referendum cast by Bob and Paula McDowell, who live on Lake Lemon. Their property taxes keep going up, and they said enough is enough.

"Not now," Bob McDowell said. "It's just not the time," his wife agreed.

Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Voters approve MCCSC referendum to increase preschool funding