Hutchinson USD 308 voters rejected a $36 million school bond proposal by 130 votes Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Reno County Clerk’s Office.
With all 35 precincts reporting on the bond question, the vote was 4,769 against and 4,639 in favor. The proposal led by 234 votes in the first returns before falling behind later in the evening.
The bond would have paid for improvements at district schools, including heating and cooling upgrades, roof replacements, storm shelters and security improvements. District officials had said the work could be financed without increasing the district’s current bond-related property tax levy.
In the Reno County portion of Kansas House District 102, Democrat Jason Probst beat Republican incumbent Kyler Sweely 3,033 to 2,681.
Republicans outpolled Democrats in the Reno County portions of three other Kansas House districts. Kevin O’Brien beat Mary Ann Harmon 1,012 to 390 in District 101, Randy Parks beat Lynnette Krieger-Zook 5,628 to 3,785 in District 104, and Kevin Schwertfeger beat Alan Albers 3,748 to 1,290 in District 114. The House totals reflect Reno County votes only.
Nickerson voters approved a five-year extension of the city’s existing 1% sales tax, 228 to 64. Voters in The Highlands rejected a proposal to issue up to $500,000 in bonds for street improvements, 152 to 90.
Republican Mike Sullivan defeated Democrat Carol Moore 3,427 to 1,924 in Reno County Commission District 1. Republicans Richard Winger and Don Bogner ran unopposed in districts 4 and 5, respectively.
In the Reno County count for State Board of Education District 7, Republican Alana McWilliams beat Democrat Ann Zimmerman 12,818 to 8,289. Republicans Thomas “Tad” Dower and Daniel Gilligan ran unopposed for 27th Judicial District judgeships.
Reno County voters backed the Kansas constitutional amendment 14,333 to 6,554 and favored retaining both Kansas Supreme Court justices and all five Kansas Court of Appeals judges on the ballot.
All 89 Reno County precincts reported. The clerk’s office recorded 21,905 ballots cast out of 42,202 registered voters, a turnout of 51.9%.