Levies fail narrowly in St. Regis school election

The levies on the St. Regis school election ballot narrowly failed on May 8.

The general fund levy lost by four votes and the technology levy failed by just one vote.

School administrators are looking into a possible recount.

Meanwhile, four candidates were up for two seats on the St. Regis School Board and the May 8 election determined who would be serving for the three-year terms. The unofficial results show Mark Farris and Christine West beat out Jessica Connolly and Ken Jasper with just 12 votes between Farris and Connolly.

West is a recently retired science teacher from St. Regis and Farris works as an insurance caims adjuster and has four boys who attend St. Regis. Unofficial results:

Christine West 168

Mark Farris 139

Jessica Connolly 127

Kenneth Jasper 120

The votes will be canvassed at the next St. Regis School Board meeting on May 21 and will become official at that time.

School Business Manager Tina Hill said the law governing the recount process is that after the canvass of votes on May 21, 10 electors may petition for a recount, or the board can declare a recount at the canvass. A committee of three Board members would perform the recount within five days of the canvass.

The General Fund Levy would be used for maintaining the current budget for maintenance and operations of school in the amount of $45,899. It was approximately 9.7 mills and would increase property taxes on a $100,000 home about $13.10 per year or $26.19 for a $200,000 home. It was a permanent levy, assuming the district levies that amount at least once in the next five years.

The Technology Levy was for $25,000 per year for three years. It was approximately 5.28 mills and was to be used for purchasing, maintaining technological equipment including computers and network access as well as for software, training and other related items. A $100,000 home would see about a $7.13 property tax increase and a $200,000 home, $14.26.

“We’re getting closer every year,” said St. Regis Superintendent, Joe Steele. He explained that overall, tax payers will see an actual decrease in their taxes partly because of cuts to the school’s transportation budget. They will be getting rid of one of the four big school buses, and rely more heavily on the three remaining big buses, smaller buses and the school van. The buses, along with some other items will decrease the operations budget.

“We are aware that many of our residents are on a fixed income and we try to keep the budget at the bare minimum,” he said. To make up for the failed levies, administration will meet with the newly formed school board in June and start looking at cuts during budget meetings.

He said there is some money available because a case was resolved involving a business protesting taxes. To safe guard against that case failing, $25,000 was placed into a reserve fund and can now be released. The school will also receive approximately $21,000 in SRS funds, as well as some possible funding the federal government put into the Title I program for high-poverty schools.