Colton awaits final count: School bonds voted down

Voters in initial returns Tuesday shot down modernization bonds requested by the Colton and Oakesdale school districts.

Colton voters came in with 58 percent approval for its $4,996,000 bond request, short of the needed 60 percent supermajority for capital projects. Oakesdale’s $4.2 million remodel measure failed to gain a simple majority, with 52 percent of voters casting no ballots.

Colton Superintendent Nate Smith said Tuesday night the school board was still hopeful late returns would swing the count above the 60 percent mark.

“There’s some ballots left out there to count. So we’re still in the hunt,” he said.

Colton was 23 votes short of the 60 percent mark as of Tuesday’s returns.

Turnout count Tuesday was 57 percent, with 757 of 1,317 ballots included in the overall count.

Elections Supervisor Debbie Hooper estimated 100 ballots received in Tuesday’s mail were left to count. More were expected to come in the mail Wednesday in time for the next count today, Thursday.

Jake Dingman, superintendent at Oakesdale, remained hopeful late returns would push his school’s bond into the approval column, but was surprised by Tuesday night’s results.

“It certainly looked like we’ve had real strong community support,” he said. “I guess we need to do a better job communicating the fact that what we’re looking for is basic educational needs.”

Despite that, Dingman said the district sees no need to consolidate with another school district, like Tekoa, in the future.

“We’re still a viable, strong district,” he said. “We just need facilities that will make sure we stay that way.”

For Colton, it was the second time in six months voters denied the remodel measure. After receiving only 52 percent approval for the same remodel measure in November, the school conducted a series of public forums, revised its plans and cut $164,000 from the bond request.

Smith said he had yet to speak with the board about trying a third time for the remodel.

“You know, we haven’t made that decision yet,” he said.

Both schools would have received matching funds from a state grant had voters approved the funding request.

Four precincts were included in the count.

On the Colton bond, voters in the Colton precinct gave 63 percent approval to the measure, 158 to 94. The Uniontown precinct voted 51 percent in favor with 71 yes votes and 74 nos.

In the Oakesdale district, voters in the Oakesdale precinct gave 55 percent approval, 150 to 121. Voters in Farmington precinct rejected the request by 74 percent, with 66 nos to 23 yeas.