BLUFF SCHOOL LEVY DEFEATED

POPLAR BLUFF - Voters defeated by a wide margin a tax levy increase for the Poplar Bluff School District Tuesday.

The no votes totaled 4,320 while there were 1,831 yes votes counted.

District officials had asked voters to raise the school tax levy to $2.66 per $100 assessed property valuation. The rate remains at $1.51.

The proposed $1.15 increase would raise revenue for operating expenses, including salaries for teachers and other personnel. The levy was last increased in 1967. Tuesday's vote was the third time a levy increase was defeated since 1967.

Proponents of the measure expressed surprise at the lopsided outcome. "I'm disappointed to see people were not willing to put their dollars behind their children's future," said Mary Lou Brown of the Future Planning Committee, which backed the increase.

Opponents were pleased with the vote. "I think it was the best vote for Poplar Bluff and it was good for the community," said Riley Mathias, who help lead the opposition.

Mathias said he doesn't think the board "is in touch with the people who pay the taxes."