# Local school referendum passes (third time is a cham) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 9, 2017, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-school-referendum-passes-third-time-is-a-cham/801099 "2017-11-09T04:02:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-school-referendum-passes-third-time-is-a-cham/801099/1 "2017-11-09T04:02:52Z")
A few years ago there was a proposal to build a new elementary school and close the current one – this failed pretty badly So last year they had a bunch of focus groups and meetings and had another referendum – this failed as well (52/47) > [@](#): > > revoke all of the School District’s existing voter approved referendum revenue authority and replace it with a new voter approved referendum revenue authorization of $626.72 per pupil (an increase of $400 per pupil), subject to an annual increase at the rate of inflation They sent out a survey asking how much folks would be willing to pay. the new referendum passed 68/32. > [@](#): > > has proposed to increase its general education revenue by $850 per pupil, subject to an annual increase at the rate of inflation. I was actually surprised the new one was more money ( I thought it was less). I’m guessing the “no” folks were less energized since there wasn’t other races (2651 total votes vs 4649 in 2016) The city I used to live in passed a referendum as well (75/25 increase of $460/pupil, but it may actually reduce property taxes due to state aid or something) Though another nearby city’s referendum lost 90/10 (that involved consolidating some schools) In related news a fried of mine got elected to the school board (In a bigger city – more students than people in my entire county) Brian ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-school-referendum-passes-third-time-is-a-cham/801099/2 "2017-11-09T06:57:31Z")
In all honesty, I think it’s pretty slimy to put just one question on the ballot in an off off year election, especially one that he failed twice. Are many of the polling stations at schools in your area? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-school-referendum-passes-third-time-is-a-cham/801099/3 "2017-11-09T12:31:19Z")
This was in a school, but I am pretty sure the original referendum was also single issue and in a school. Obviously it wasn’t single issue in 2016 (I didn’t vote in a school, but I think some precincts did) “Democracy belongs to those who show up” Brian ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-school-referendum-passes-third-time-is-a-cham/801099/4 "2017-11-09T13:12:10Z")
Yeah - a previous town of residence tried all manner of (IMO) questionable approaches to force referenda through, generally figuring some way to proceed through either voter fatigue or other means (limiting number of classes that could be taken but not affecting sports). This is a significant issue in IL, where we “enjoy” many times more taxing districts than any other state. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-school-referendum-passes-third-time-is-a-cham/801099/5 "2017-11-09T15:59:41Z")
Property taxes are relatively low, and it was an increase of ~$200/year for the median home IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-school-referendum-passes-third-time-is-a-cham/801099/6 "2017-11-09T16:03:44Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > In all honesty, I think it’s pretty slimy to put just one question on the ballot in an off off year election, especially one that he failed twice. Are many of the polling stations at schools in your area? > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I am _philosophically_ opposed to putting school funding ballot issues on for a “special election” when nothing else is on the ballot. However, I’m not going to vote against it for that reason alone. The schools need the money most places. Like many electoral problems, 100% mail in voting helps alleviate the concern. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-school-referendum-passes-third-time-is-a-cham/801099/7 "2017-11-10T15:04:33Z")
Pretty much the same thing happened in the school district where I used to live. There was a ballot measure to raise property taxes for the district in a November election, but this was in California back when all tax increases needed 2/3 support, and it failed by one vote…so the district paid for a special election the following March where it was the only thing on the ballot (and IIRC, they asked for more money, in part to pay for the election), and it passed.