Posted at: 11/04/2009 7:18 PM
By: David Springer

Even With Referendum, BP Could Make Cuts

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Eight votes was all that separated victory from defeat in the Blooming Prairie School District referendum Tuesday night. Voters there approved a tax increase, giving the district nearly 700 dollars per student for the next ten years.

High School Principal Barry Olsen says the district will now be able to maintain its current programs, but...

"We probably, probably will not be able to add back any. Keep class sizes where we like them, but no we do not see additional programs coming," says Olsen.

Question 1 of the referendum was decided by just 8 votes. Evidence of how the issue closely divided the small city.

"And I'm sure the schools need the money to operate. But there isn't much we can do about it. We want a school, any school anywhere, they're going to have to pay to keep it going," says Floyd Davidson.

"I just think the school is so important to our community and I'm sure other people will realize that too," says Leanne Hanson.

What some residents may not realize is, despite last night's results, the district may still be forced to eventually cut staff. Olsen says the state government will have the biggest say in that.

"85 percent of our funding comes from the state government. If they cut our amount of funding or keep us at zero for a long period of time, obviously we'll have to take a look at that," says Olsen.

For now, at least in Blooming Prairie, it's a wait and see scenario as the district waits for the legislature to reconvene and see what it comes up with for a budget. But as we've reported, the state is already looking at a multi-billion dollar deficit.

There was a second part to the Blooming Prairie referendum. Question two would have increased the per student spending another 200 dollars. That was defeated by nearly 300 votes.