BREAKING NEWS: Mixed results for Owatonna School Referendum

Voters provided mixed results on funding for the Owatonna School District in Tuesday’s election.
There were two questions on the ballot. Voters approved the first question, which gives the district authority to renew an existing operating levy. The question was approved with 8,211 yes (52%) to 7,474 no (47%).
However, voters were less generous with question two by soundly defeating that portion of the levy. There were 9,533 no votes (61%) compared to 6,104 yes votes (39%).
Superintendent Jeff Elstad said Wednesday there will likely be significant cuts as a result of the second question not passing, though he did not want to speculate on the total amount of cuts at this time. He said the school board will meet early next year to decide what to cut.
The second part of the levy would have provided the district an extra $1.6 million per year over 10 years.
In the school board race, voters re-elected Timothy Jensen (26%) and Eric Schuster (25%) to the board as well as newcomer Deborah Bandel (19%). Current board member Christina Ingvaldson did not seek re-election.