Voters Reject Tri County School Bond

By Gordon Hopkins It was a close race but voters have rejected a $21.5 million school bond that would have been used to significantly upgrade facilities at the Tri County Public Schools District in DeWitt.The difference, according to results available as of press time, was just 36 votes, 500 against and 464 in favor.Preliminary results were released Tuesday evening, May 13. The canvass board met the next day and results were declared official on Wednesday. On March 10, 2025, Tri County's Board of Education voted unanimously to approve a resolution calling for a special election of the voters of the school district to vote for or against the issuance of General Obligation School Building Bonds, in an amount not to exceed $21.5 million, for the purpose of constructing additions, renovations and improvements to the district’s existing facilities. The special election was held Tuesday, May 13, 2025, by mail. The Tri County Public School District covers portions of northwest Jefferson County, western Gage County and southeast Saline County.The total cost of the proposed project was anticipated to be $28.3 million. Of that, $6.8 million for the lease purchase will come from the existing building fund and general fund levy from the tax levy that is already in place. The remaining $21.5 million was to come from the General Obligation bonds and would have required an increase of 11.5 cents. Randy Schlueter, Tri County Superintendent, told FJN, “Members of the board of education have expressed disappointment for the students of the district who will not have the opportunity to be a part of the expanded programs that were going to be offered. The school board will meet at their regularly scheduled meeting in June and one of the agenda items will be developing a plan to move forward with the Facility Project.”When asked what the way forward would be, Schlueter responded, “The board of education did not develop an alternative plan during the bond resolution so they were not put into a position to respond to that question.”

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