Mount Vernon voters OK money for high school arts addition

Voters in both the Mount Vernon and Alburnett schools districts overwhelmingly approved measures on special election ballots Tuesday.

In Mount Vernon, 80 percent of those voting approved a $12.8 million general obligation bond to build a new performing arts center addition to the high school.

The measure needed a 60 percent supermajority to pass.

More than 1,300 voters, or about 17 percent of the registered voters in the school district, voted in the special election, according to Linn County Election Services.

The bond will not raised the district's current property tax rate of $18.41 per $1,000 assessed valuation.

In addition to the performing arts center, the bond also will add a two-classroom addition and secure entry at the middle school and a two-classroom addition at Washington Elementary. It also will pay for remodeling several high school classrooms.

Two years ago, voters rejected a larger bond issue that also would have paid for an athletics complex.

ALBURNETT

In Alburnett, 67 percent of those voting said yes to an increase to the district's physical plant and equipment levy, or PPEL, that will pay for a new school buses.

The PPEL levy will increase by 67 cents to $1.34 per $1,000 assessed valuation for the next five years.

About 7 percent of registered voters in the district cast ballots, according to Linn County Election Services.

The Alburnett district's measure needed a simple majority for passage.

ALBURNETT COUNCIL

Also on Tuesday, Alburnett city residents elected Josh Henriksen to a vacancy on the City Council.

l Comments: (319) 398-8330; molly.duffy@thegazette.com