By Garrick Moritz, Editor
The $500,000 tax opt out was passed by the voters on Tuesday, March 21st. The Gazette Editor came to the polling place at the American Legion just before the polls closed at 7 p.m.
Despite inappropriate jokes about ballot stuffing being made by a few lingering voters, no such thing occurred. The polls were fully staffed and all legal procedures and practices for vote counting were followed to the letter, and it was done in a professional and timely manner. One voter, who had arrived two minutes too late, was turned away as the polls had closed and the count began.
One provisional ballot had been set aside so that the voter’s registration could be checked with the count, but all other votes, same day, early votes and absentee ballots were counted.
In the provisional tally, there were 622 votes cast, 344 for yes and 277 for no. School Business Manager Jacob Schweitzer contacted the Gazette showing the document that would be presented to the school board with the final tally and the outstanding ballot had been recognized as valid by the County, bringing the total vote count to 344 yes and 278 for no. So, the Tax Opt-Out has passed by 66 votes, receiving 55 percent of the total vote.
On Tuesday, March 28, the Garretson School Board hosted a special meeting to canvass and approve the election results.
