Neoga School Board Agrees to Put Another Referendum on Ballot

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Published on November 12 2015 9:25 pm
Last Updated on November 12 2015 9:25 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

The Neoga Board of Education Thursday voted to place a referendum question on the spring ballot, seeking an additional $415,000 in property tax revenue.

The amount sought was debated by board members before voting 7-0 to seek $415,000, which is about half the amount attempted in a referendum voted down in March. The figure being sought is also less than the $491,000 discussed at a special meeting earlier this month.

If the referendum passes, board members say it would provide enough revenue to reinstate a regular-length school day, restore elective course offerings, and pay for extracurricular activities. Those items were cut by the board earlier this year after the spring referendum failed. The board had approved a series of other cuts even before the spring vote.

While all seven board members favored pursuing a referendum, all seven also sought less than the $491,000 figure suggested earlier this month. Each board member was asked for a figure they could live with. Responses ranged from $391,000 to $450,000, but the $415,000 amount was finally decided upon.

The Board will finalize their decision when they also act on the tax levy for the coming fiscal year. Those moves will come at the Board's next regular meeting on December 10.