It's back to the drawing board for Groton Area School District.
A $14.5 million bond did not meet the approval of voters and tax payers. The final count was 651 no votes and 336 yes votes -- it needed a 60 percent majority to pass.
Of the 2,583 eligible voters, 38.4% voted, according to a release from Groton Area School District.
"Although the election outcome was somewhat disappointing, the voter turnout was strong and patrons of the Groton Area School District have spoken. I anticipate the school board will put this issue to voters again as some of our existing school debt expires and the agriculture economy rebounds," said Mike Weber, Business Manager in the release.
The school estimates it would need to spend about $4.4 million to bring the existing building up to code and update the heating and cooling system. Those issues would have been addressed in the project to remodel the 1934 portion of the school, in addition to adding larger classrooms and making it compatible with modern learning.
The bond would have been a 20-year, tiered bond that would have added an estimated $50 to an annual tax bill on a property valued at $100,000. As other school bonds are paid off in 2020 and 2022, the amounts would have increased on this bond.
"For the few patrons that were disappointed in not having more input on the building design, the board will most likely ask them to serve on the building committee for the next proposal," Weber said.
