Brainerd School Levy Referendum
How we voted
Here are the voting totals by polling site for each of the two levy questions:
Polling site Question No. 1 Question No. 2
($199/pupil renewal) (add’l $200/pupil)
Yes /No Yes/No
Baxter
Precincts 1E and 1W: 942,/236 768/408
Precincts 2E and 2W: 767/148 631/ 284
Brainerd
Ward 1, P1 and P2: 478/133 407,/208
Ward 2, P1 and P2: 434/ 123 374/ 181
Ward 3, P1 and P2: 322/ 113 252/ 184
Ward 4, P1 and P2: 314/ 118 232/ 199
Fort Ripley and Fort Ripley Township: 153/ 97 114/ 135
Garrison and Garrison Township: 85/ 73 61/ 97
Nisswa: 498/ 226 354/ 370
Bay Lake/Nokay Lake Townships: 177/ 119 118/ 175
Center/Lake Edward Townships: 382/ 233 266/ 351
Crow Wing Township: 268/ 158 194/ 228
Daggett Brook Township: 52/ 63 23/ 92
Long Lake Township: 186/ 110 132/ 164
Maple Grove Township: 89/ 62 54/ 96
Oak Lawn Township: 249/ 150 183/ 215
Platte Lake/Roosevelt Township: 47/61 33/74
St. Mathias Township: 94/ 76 61/ 109
Unorganized Territory
Red and White Precincts: 520/284 380/421
Blue Precinct: 461/ 150 359/252
East Gull Lake: 170/47 120/ 97
Absentees: 348/154 255/249
Comments (3)
Add commentInteresting
The support for the first question was an overwhelming victory in all voting areas, however it is interesting to see that in outlaying percincts that most turned down the second question.
Interesting but not surprising
Lifelongresident, I noticed that too, with the exception of two sites in unorganized territory and the absentee ballots. However, it brings to mind that the people in the city are more conscious of and may well be more affected by the loss that would be sustained if these two items had not passed. We all have lived through two closed schools, severely increased class sizes, teacher cuts, and more, in just a few years. Living outside of town, those two school closings did not dramatically affect my neighborhood, but it clearly affected those in town and, in my opinion, the loss still burns in their minds. Congratulations District 181.
Perhaps those in outlaying
Perhaps those in outlaying areas were voting based more upon finances than those in town? Perhaps they voted based more on what they could afford.
It looks like Baxter had the largest margin of victory on question 2 and demographically it seems they are a more affluent area than say, Garrison, for example. Maybe that had something to do with it.
This time around (as opposed to the $900 request in 2007) I think there was much more of the sentiment agreeing that there was a need for the funds, and that the school district was asking for a fair amount. It just came down to simple economics for some people. I don't think the majority of folks who voted "no" to the second question felt any joy in that vote.