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HG football backers considering recount |
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Wednesday, 12 March 2008 |
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By Whit Jones
Courier Staff Supporters of a football program in the Harmony Grove School District are deciding today whether to ask for a replay after they were stopped at the goal line Tuesday.
A proposed 2.3 mill increase was defeated for the second straight year, this time by only 10 votes (482-472).
Thirty-eight percent of the district’s 2,491 registered voters participated in the election.
The millage increase would have generated about $1 million to fund the start of the district’s first football program and build a 1,250-seat stadium.
Dale Anderson, who led a grassroots effort in support for the millage proposal, said Tuesday night that he would ask the Saline County Election Commission for a vote recount.
This morning, however, Anderson said someone else will have to request a recount “because I’m not spending any more money on this election than I already have, and I’m not sure a recount would do any good.”
The recount decision will be made by other supporters, he said.
Anderson, a 1987 Harmony Grove graduate, said the Haskell community “has let everybody down by not passing this millage.”
He also declared that “there’s an enormous amount of kids who’ll be leaving Harmony Grove so they can play football.”
Anderson said this morning that he intends to post signs in the Haskell area calling for the Harmony Grove district to consolidate with the Benton School District.
“There are a lot of kids in Haskell who want to play football,” Anderson said. “This is ridiculous that they don’t have that chance.”
Superintendent Danny Henley said “it’s always a possibility” that parents will elect to take students out of the district.
“But I hope they will stick with us and give a chance to see what our options are before they do anything like that,” he said.
Voters who went to the polls Tuesday supported the millage proposal 453-402. The measure was doomed in early voting, when 77 people voted against it and 19 voted in favor.
If supporters decide they want a recount, they will have to request it in writing to the Election Commission, which is chaired by Greg Brown of Benton. County Clerk Freddy Burton said the cost of the recount would be determined by the commission, but could not exceed 25 cents per ballot, according to state law.
Anderson said that if the millage vote stands, supporters will ask the school district to hold a third special election in 2010. Another election cannot be held in the same calendar year.
The proposed 2.3 mill increase was defeated by 18 votes in September 2007 when voter turnout was about half of what it was this year. The vote in 2007 was 262-244.
Henley said he expected a close vote this year.
“I really thought the millage might pass this time,” he said. “I can’t say I’m shocked at the outcome, but I am disappointed.”
Henley said he and members of the school board “will look at all our options and see what is best for the school and the community.”
Joe Lyman, transportation director for the school district, said he was not surprised by the large voter turnout.
“I think there was a lot of interest in this election,” he said, adding: “Some of us are obviously disappointed, but I am glad so many people got out and voted. Any time you have good voter turnout, that speaks well for the community.”
Harmony Grove’s millage rate is 39.7 mills. |
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