Deer Park voters reject $1.85M bond
The Deer Park School grounds on Middle Road in Columbia Falls on Friday, April 6. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
A $1.85 million bond issue for Deer Park School was rejected by voters Tuesday.
According to preliminary results, 203 people voted against the bond issue and 165 for it. Voter turnout was 54 percent.
The bond issue would have funded building a new art/music room, library media center, main office/entrance and a flexible learning room. Existing space would have been renovated into a dining/multipurpose room and classroom. Bathroom renovations was high on the priority list. Improvements would also have been made to existing classrooms, storage, infrastructure (heating, electrical and plumbing) and abatement of hazardous materials.
Annual taxes would have increased by approximately $177 for owners of homes valued at $200,000 had the bond issue passed. The duration of the bond would have been 20 years.
This is not the first time a bond issue has failed in the rural school district in recent years. A $3 million bond issue was defeated in September 2017.
“We’ll meet with the school board and prioritize the greatest needs and probably look at what renovations we can do with end-of-year money if possible. I know the bathrooms will be the first priority,” Deer Park Principal Dan Block said.
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.