By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Voters overwhelmingly approved an increase in the St. Joseph School District levy to provide a salary increase for teachers and staff.
Unofficial results from the Buchanan County Clerk’s office shows 7,187 voting in favor of waiving Proposition C and raising the school levy by 59-cents with only 4,137 voting against; a split of 63% to 36%.
St. Joseph School Superintendent Gabe Edgar says the margin means a lot to the district.
“The margin shows that the community was loud and clear about what they wanted for our staff here in the St. Joseph School District,” Edgar tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “That’s exciting. It is another step forward and we’re looking to put it to good use and offer the very best education for the students here.”
The St. Joseph School District estimates the property tax increase will raise $7.1 million annually. The St. Joseph Board of Education has approved using the additional money to pay for a $2,750 flat pay raise for all teachers and staff in the district.
Edgar says this vote will boost morale among St. Joseph public school teachers and staff.
“Well, I think it definitely is going to be a positive. We have a lot of work to do academically, which this will boost that morale in order to fix some of our academic issues,” Edgar says. “It all goes together. It’s kind of seamless. It’s a system and it was a good shot in the arm for our system.”
Edgar says he did fewer presentations on the issue than normal, likely because not as many civic groups meet in the summer. Still, when he made presentations, he didn’t feel the issue generated overly negative reactions from the public.
“There was really nothing that was terribly negative,” Edgar says. “Once we explained everything, I think people really felt that it was something that was needed for the St. Joseph School District to move forward,” “I didn’t expect it to be as high as it is, but I was pretty confident that it would pass.”
St. Joseph voters approved the two tax issues on the ballot in Tuesday’s Primary Election. Voters gave an extension of the city Use Tax 72% approval.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.