WBCSD bond fails

PRIEST RIVER — Voters turned down a $23 million West Bonner County School District general obligation bond Tuesday that would have meant a new elementary school in Blanchard and remodeled other schools in the district.

The measure received 810 yes votes to 785 no votes, with a total of 1,595 votes cast. It was a record turnout for a West Bonner election, according to district clerk Donna Morrow.

Even though the bond earned 50.78 percent approval, two-thirds approval was needed for the measure to pass.

"Even though it didn't pass, we're pleased with the total votes," Morrow said. "If we had needed just a simple majority, it would have passed."

Morrow said the trustees are meeting at 5:30 p.m. today at the district office to go over the vote and to discuss budget strategies with the failure of the bond.

The bond was for $23 million dollars to be paid over 20 years and would of put $11.2 million into Priest River Junior High, $5.7 for a Blanchard Elementary school, $1.6 million for classrooms at Priest River Lamanna High School, an auxiliary gym for $1.5 million at the high school, and $2.1 million for Priest River Elementary School to have a new cafeteria and new windows and doors.