District Residents’ Votes Decide Prop S Fate

Residents of the Kearney School District went to the polls on Tuesday, August 8, to determine the outcome of Proposition S, a measure to increase property taxes to fund school safety and salaries.

Unofficial results from the Clay County Election Board report that district residents in Clay County voted down the measure 62.05% to 37.95%. 20.9% of registered voters participated in this decision.

Clinton County unofficial results show votes from those who live within school district voted down the measure 74.1% to 25.8%.

“I appreciate everyone in our community who engaged with us on the Prop S ballot measure and who turned out to vote,” Superintendent Emily Miller said. “We know tax increases are never easy. While the results are disappointing, we will maintain our focus on being among the very best pre-K-12 institutions in the state. Our students deserve nothing less.”

The district asked residents for support of school safety and staff through Prop S, a proposed 45-cent per $100 valuation property tax increase. The district anticipated the increase would have given it a $2.2 million raise in revenue.

If it was approved, the additional revenue would have been used to increase safety and security with additional School Resource Officers as well as increased pay and benefits for district employees.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story