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Danbury ISD voters nix $8.9 million bond
Published November 4, 2009
DANBURY — Danbury ISD trustees slimmed down a failed bond issue from two years ago, but voters rejected the new $8.9 million issue for an athletic facility and renovations, according to unofficial results Tuesday night.
The issue failed with 269 votes, or 54.1 percent against and 228 votes for, or 45.9 percent, according to Brazoria County elections officials. The results are unofficial until they are certified.
Trustees hoped to use the bonds to finish the middle school’s second floor, add classrooms at the elementary school and build a multiuse athletic center. Most items on the issue were part of a $9.47 million bond voters rejected by a 234-159 vote in May 2008.
School Board Secretary Gwen Zimmerle said she was disappointed in Tuesday’s results.
“I guess we’ll go back to the drawing board,” she said. “It concerns me that we’ve got a lot of things that need to be done. The school is old and we need a lot of repairs and upgrades. I didn’t think it would pass. There are a lot of people who were against the athletic facility.”
Resident Barry Russell opposed the measure. He would have liked to see the bonds split into educational and athletic facilities. Russell said he would have supported work to educational facilities only.
“In this country, we’re falling behind in educating our children and are placing way too much emphasis on sports,” Russell said. “I understand the need for sports, but I also understand the need for our children to receive a quality education.”
Included in the package was $3.29 million to build another elementary wing that includes classrooms and a cafeteria; $1.95 million to finish the second floor of Danbury Middle School; and $1.98 million to build a new, 16,426-square-foot multiuse athletic center.
The package also included $1.32 million for renovation at all campuses.
The district pushed for the bond issue, saying its student population grows by about 10 to 20 students a year. While the district might need to update some facilities, the $8.9 million price tag was too expensive, opponents said. And while the district might average annual growth, it lost 30 students last school year.
The bond would not have increased the district’s overall tax rate by more than 26 cents per $100 of appraised property value, according to information provided by the school district. That would have amounted to an additional $260 a year for a $100,000 home.
John Lowman and John Tompkins are reporters for The Facts. Contact them at 979-849-8581.
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