Millage loses in all precincts n Proposal to increase taxes and build school in Bella Vista loses district-wide

GRAVETTE -- The parent who led a campaign against the Gravette School District's recent tax proposal said she was pleased by the unity voters showed in last week's election.

The district proposed a 3.6-mill tax increase to help pay for a new elementary school and additional classrooms at the high school. The issue failed with about 87 percent of voters rejecting it, an unusually lopsided result for a tax referendum.

"It was good to see when the facts got out there, the voters made the decision that was best for the district," said Hope Duke, mother of three children in the district and leader of the opposition group Concerned Citizens of Gravette School District. "It was great to see the district so united, all the way across."

In three of the four precincts -- Hiwasse, Gravette Civic Center and Sulphur Springs -- only about 4 percent of voters supported the increase, according to unofficial results.

The fourth precinct was Highlands Church in west Bella Vista. The increase fared significantly better there, but still got support from only 22 percent of voters.

Voter turnout was 26 percent district-wide.

If the millage had passed, the elementary school would have been built in Bella Vista. Cooper Communities agreed in 2010 to reserve the 17-acre site for the district for 10 years and donate the land if a school was built there.

The additional millage would have cost the owner of a $100,000 home an extra $72 per year.

The opposition campaign centered around a simple message: Gravette doesn't need additional space now. As of early this month, both elementary schools had dozens of seats open, Duke said.

"There's no pressing need for anything right now," she said.

The campaign used practically no money and relied largely on Facebook and email to get its message across, Duke said.

"This was grassroots at its finest," Duke said. "For me, it was great to see people get out and vote. That was one of the best things. I would like to see that in every election."

The School Board voted 4-3 in February to request the millage increase from voters. The three board members with Bella Vista addresses all voted for it, along with one who lives on the district's far west side. The three members who opposed it all have Gravette addresses.

Daniel Yates, a board member who lives in Gravette, said he was happy to see the millage defeated, adding he was pleased the opposition came from all corners of the district.

"I feel the district is together on this," Yates said.

He said an addition probably will be necessary in a few years at Upper Elementary, which serves grades three through five.

Yates said the Bella Vista site isn't the best location for a new school, citing a need for significant dirt work and the potential increase in traffic in that area.

"I'm not against a school in Bella Vista, by the way," Yates said.

Tracy Moorman is joining the School Board next month after running unopposed last week for the Position 3 seat. Moorman, who lives west of Gravette, will replace board president Danny Alsup.

Moorman also opposed the millage increase after looking at enrollment numbers and enrollment history.

"There's a need for some growth in the Upper Elementary, and maybe in the high school. But with a re-issuing of bonds and the money in our building fund, I think we can do that," Moorman said.

Richard Page, district superintendent, was unavailable for comment on Tuesday.

One of the reasons millage supporters cited for building an elementary school was the long bus rides some students must endure. The district has four routes with ride times between 60 and 70 minutes and one route of 80 minutes, according to a memo this month from Richard Carver, district transportation and facilities director. Forty-six students ride the bus for more than an hour each way. The district covers 150 square miles.

"We are currently in the process of making changes to some routes to lower the ride time of students," Carver wrote in the Sept. 9 memo.

Some board members also supported the millage because of projected growth in the district, especially on its east side.

The last time the district requested a millage increase before this month was in April 2007. About 60 percent of voters approved a 2-mill increase to pay for operational costs and several capital improvement projects.

AT A GLANCE

Millage Results

The Gravette School District proposed a 3.6-mill tax increase in the Sept. 16 school election. Below are the unofficial results by precinct, though the results were expected to be certified Friday.

Precinct For Tax Against Tax

Gravette Civic Center

36 (4%) 861 (96%)

Highlands Church

313 (21%) 1,165 (79%)

Hiwasse

8 (4%) 180 (96%)

Sulphur Springs

2 (1%) 161 (99%)

Total 359 (13%) 2,367 (87%)

Source: Staff report

General News on 10/01/2014