Superior school board levy fails to pass by large margin

The votes are in and the proposed mill levy increase by the Superior School District failed to pass by a large margin.

According to tallies by the Mineral County Clerk and Recorders Office, over 61 percent of registered voters in the school board district cast a vote on the levy increase, which saw 643 residents vote against and 268 vote for.

The proposed levy would have been used by the Superior School District to generate an estimated $7 million and begin building a community center on school grounds.

“The vision is to develop a facility that provides access to year-round affordable, accessible health, sports, wellness and recreational opportunities,” Superior Superintendent Wayne Stanley said. “Joining forces with local agencies we are trying to get together with a common goal of a better Superior.”

The vision for the project began in the school board four-years ago and Stanley said they polled community members two-years ago to determine the needs of the community – the poll resulted in the initial design for the center and led the school board to go forward with the levy vote.

If passed, Stanley estimated they would break ground on the facility this July in hopes of opening as early as spring of 2014.

Stanley went over a variety of grants at one of the three public information meetings that will be applied for if the levy passes. These grants would reduce the amount of time the levy increase would be in effect, but Stanley added in order to receive the grants the initial levy must be passed.

“In the process of applying for most of those grants you have to have funding in place,” Stanley said. “They want to see funding in hand so you can go forward with the project.”

Stanley added the goal is to try to reduce the cost as much as possible through grant funding.

“But to come to the public, you have to know that worst-case scenario this could cost us seven million,” Stanley said. “I feel very confident the options are out there but I can’t stand before you and guarantee those funds will be out there.”

After the center is completed, Stanley said they have estimated the operational costs will be around $120,000 a year and could generate as much as $150,000 a year in revenue through programs such as medical rehabilitation in the pool as well as the user fees for using the pool.

“The more you use it, the more it comes around,” Stanley said of the amount of revenue that could be generated. “Is now the time to invest in our community? That is something you have to decide as far as the outcome of our community – is this where we look to invest.”