In Tuesday’s elections, four rural school districts voters approved bond questions: Benson, Cleveland, Mountain Lake and Ogilvie. Unfortunately Worthington voters rejected their bond request for the second time this year. These results raised the 2018 rural passage rate to 53 percent with 9 of 17 bond referendum proposals gaining the go ahead from their local voters so far this year.
This year marks the first year that the 40% Ag2School tax credit on school bonds for agriculture and timber land owners takes effect. Benson Superintendent Dennis Laumeyer credits Ag2School for his communities support for the bond question.
“There is no way the Benson School bond would have passed without that tax relief in place,” he said. “Because of Ag2School, Benson Schools will be able to replace 90 year old buildings with learning spaces that meet 21st century learning.”
August 14 Bond Election Results
School District |
Project Description |
Project Amount |
Vote Yes-No |
Passed-Failed |
| Benson | New auditorium, junior high classrooms, child care and early learning spaces |
$26.3 million |
1370-589
|
Passed 70% |
| Cleveland Q1 | New cafeteria, classrooms, new STEM and Ag Tech Labs | $14.4 million |
727-521 | Passed 58% |
| Cleveland Q2 | New gymnasium | $5 million | 635-600 | Passed 51% |
| Mountain Lake | Improved safety and repair of facilities | $13 million | 599-173 | Passed 77% |
| Ogilvie | Betterment of facilities | $495,000 | 325-182 | Passed 57% |
| Worthington Q1 | New 3-5 Intermediate School | $35 million | 1506-1776 | Failed 54% |
| Worthington Q2 | Upgrading, replacing, athletic fields & facilities | $4 million | 1376-1889 | Failed 58% |
