Hickman Mills voters say 'Yes' to higher levy, no-tax-increase bond issue

Election night was good to the Hickman Mills School District.

Voters by a solid margin approved both an increase to the district’s levy as well as a $20 million no-tax-increase bond issue.

The levy increase of $1.35, which needed a simple majority to pass, won with 66% of the vote, 3,542 to 1,806 in final, unofficial results. The increase will raise the annual tax rate by around $256.50 for a $100,000 home.

The bond issue, which extends current debt without raising the current tax rate, won 76% of the vote, 4,078 to 1,282. It needed a super majority of five-sevenths to pass — or 57.1% .

The district has promised to use revenue from the levy increase to attract and keep more high-quality teachers by boosting the starting and mid-range teacher salaries that currently rank 11th out of 12 area school districts. The district says its planned wage increase will give Hickman Mills the highest starting salary and the 8th highest mid-range salaries.

The $20 million bond issue will be used to help complete plans to renovate Burke school as a 6th Grade center to ease middle school crowding, support other renovations and improvements, improve security and provide needed storage capacity at schools and the district warehouse.