(SIOUX CITY, IA) - Taxpayers got out to vote Tuesday in a special election. Western Iowa Tech Community College wanted to renew a tax levy and the Sioux City School Board had to fill a seat on the board.
In the special school board election incumbent John Meyers received more than 50 percent of the vote. The next nearest competitor was Jackie Ritter with 452 votes. Paul Gorski had 347 votes and Paul Speidel, 282 votes.
Voters in Woodbury County filled out forms to give the "yes" or "no" for a special ballot, including Western Iowa Tech's tax levy.
"We wanted to make sure that we got it renewed in time so that we do our published budget. We have to have it taken care of at that point and time," said Troy Jasman, VP of Finance for WIT.
This is a renewed tax levy for 10 years. It would be continue a one-sixth of a cent levee for every dollar in property taxes. That adds up to $400,000 a year to pay for up-to-date equipment students use in the classrooms.
"If your furnace goes out in the dead of winter and it's a cold day, you want to make sure that someone who shows up has worked on equipment that is recent," said Jasman.
As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, the county had about 2,200 people who voted absentee already.
"For a special election, it's not too bad. It's always very low for a special election turn out in a special election," said Pat Gill, Woodbury County Auditor.
Since the tax levy was on the ballot, Sioux City Schools also had to put a school board seat up for a vote.
The open school board seat was once Nancy Mounts's. She resigned in 2011. John Meyers has been filling that spot ever since.
School board member Doug Batcheller said the Woodbury County Auditor told the board, by law, voters need to elect someone to fill that seat.
However, the school board will hold an election of its own this September, again putting that board member's seat up.
"There was conversation amongst the board as to whether there would be a lawsuit brought. There's a lot of controversial votes that the board's going to be taking up; the Hoover, the Bryant question. There's several things of contention. Budget time is always an interesting time," said Batcheller.
