Fremont County voters to determine School District finances

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Story Published: Jan 19, 2010 at 4:18 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jan 20, 2010 at 11:57 AM MDT

By Steven Pope

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FREMONT COUNTY - Two-point-three million dollars are leftover from the expansion of Henry's Fork Elementary, but state laws dictate that money can't go to anything, except construction.

February 2, tax payers will vote in a special election to allow the Fremont County School District to move 2.3 million dollars. There may also be a supplemental levy that same day.

"I believe it is a timely thing, there is a certain immediacy to this opportunity," said School Board Chair James Neubauer.

If voters turn down the proposal, the funds will sit in a low interest bank account for eight years.

"And that balance can be used in a very advantageous way... To put it off the value of that money will go down because of inflation, we will receive a very small interest rate. So we are actually losing ground if we don't use that money right now. I would strongly encourage everyone to see a yes vote on this. Again no extra taxes, it's just a matter of, it's almost a technicality. Please let us use this money for other needs in the district," said Neubauer.

Later this week, the school board may decide to delay going through with the supplemental levy until they have more information from the state, but they'll definitely still be going through with the special election.

"It will probably come down to the special election only, and we will be delaying the supplemental levy," said Neubauer.

Neubarer was asked if every school board member is in favor of doing a levy.

"Certainly, yes. There has been some question about how much and when, we're dealing with that Thursday evening. I think we will have unity and consensus that we will wait a while," he replies.

Last summer, voters rejected a 600-thousand dollar supplemental levy, but that was before additional cuts were proposed by the governor last week.

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