Voters in Pequot Lakes reject tax increase
Voters in the Pequot Lakes school district in central Minnesota have rejected a tax increase that would have funded several construction projects.
The district was asking for $33 million in property tax increases to pay for new additions, remodeling, and other maintenance at the three schools and one bus building. The referendum failed Tuesday by 265 votes out of 1,900 cast.
Superintendent Rick Linnell said the projects are needed because its elementary enrollment is increasing and its buildings are aging.
"I anticipate that it will probably come back again because these needs aren't going to go away, in fact it will get to be more needs," Linnell said.
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Linnell said he understands it's a hard time to ask voters for more money because the economy has been down, but he also said it would have been a good time to get lower interest rates on the borrowing.
PEQUOT LAKES - $33.1 million bond
YES - 822 (43%)
NO - 1087 (57%)