Bond passes on 2nd try Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 4 2009 04:59 AM By Jade Ortego
Killeen Daily Herald

A contested $29 million bond issue for a new Belton middle school passed Tuesday with 54 percent of the vote.

The measure passed by 385 votes, with 2,357 votes cast in favor of the bond and 1,972 against.

Belton school board president Randy Pittenger said he was pleased with both the results and voter turnout.

"The margin of victory is significant, especially in light of the difficult economic times, the amount of misinformation and the fact that it didn't pass in May," he said.

The bond is a reworking of May's failed $38.9 million bond that included funds for high school athletic facilities. That issue was defeated by 85 votes.

Pittenger said district officials worked to inform residents about their overcrowded district, which is growing at more than 300 students annually.

By estimates from the school district, if more facilities aren't built, in 2017 BISD will have more than 3,000 students in buildings meant to hold 1,865.

"One thing we heard over and over in May is that people didn't know about the bond," Pittenger said. "This time we worked very hard to get out the facts."

Though the trimmed-down bond got much support citywide – residents even formed a political action committee in recent months to facilitate its success – some felt disillusioned at seeing the bond repackaged after rejecting its original incarnation, and others thought the 5.4-cent tax increase was too much in a recession.

"The solution to all our problem is not to increase property taxes. I can afford it, but most people can't right now…it's ridiculous to keep hitting people in the pocketbook," Belton resident George Hartshorn said.

Others found the need too great to ignore, despite the costs.

"I'm for it, but I do have some trepidations about the timing of all of it," said Ron Clemons, who voted for the bond.

"This is a bad time to raise taxes, but something I feel had to be done," he said. Clemons said he has two children enrolled in Belton's two middle schools, which he said are "extremely crowded."

Still, he said, he'd "like to see BISD be as fiscally conservative as possible."

Stephanie Covington said she voted for the bond because she trusts the school board to make decisions in the children's best interest.

"I think it makes sense to build it now. I don't have kids yet but I will. I trust the school board if they think we need a new middle school," Covington said.

Jim Watson, a retired preacher, also voted for the bond

"You've got to have a place to put the kids," he said.

Contact Jade Ortego at jortego@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7553.