Alto approves bond for new school, Jacksonville says 'no'
Rusk voters say 'yes' to change in sales tax usage

One new school will be built in Alto, Rusk will have more options on how to spend the half-cent sales tax and Jacksonville will continue to conduct elementary classes in a 50-year-old building.

Election totals came in quickly Tuesday night for 16 propositional amendments and three local issues.

Secretary of State Phil Wilson had predicted a statewide turnout of just 9.25 percent of registered voters. Cherokee County voters beat the state average with 11.63 percent of the 32,961 registered voters casting ballots. Total votes cast were 3,834. Unofficial returns were complete at press time Tuesday evening.

Of that number, most of the ballots were cast in the Jacksonville Independent School District. A total of 2,531 persons voted. Voting for the proposition to replace the Joe Wright Elementary School were 1,191 persons. The no vote totaled 1,340.

Stuart Bird, superintendent at Jacksonville ISD, said, "I want to thank Citizens for Schools and Community Advancement (CSCA) and the board of trustees for all the many hours they spent putting this bond issue together. CSCA has worked for months to help develop and promote this bond issue. We hoped for a different result, but we plan to offer the same quality education JISD always has and we will look to bringing another building project to the voters in the future."

Vote for the sales tax change in Rusk was very light with only 178 persons voting. Vote was 126 for and 52 against. City Manager Mike Murray was excited that the issue passed. He said, "I think that this will be a good opportunity for the City of Rusk. It will make investing the half cent sales tax money more flexible and will allow us to be able to recruit a broader range of businesses."

In Alto, a total of 464 persons voted for the construction of a new elementary school. Voting for were 307 and against 157. Alto Superintendent Dr. Ray DeSpain said, "I would like to publicly thank all those who exercised their democratic right and freedom by voting in the Alto ISD bond election yesterday. On behalf of the board of trustees and school administration, I would like to offer our appreciation to all the citizens for expressing their concerns, opinions and viewpoints (on both sides of the issue) in a cordial, respectful manner.

"When I entered the education profession some 28 years ago, a wise professor told me that I would deal with the two things people hold nearest and dearest to them - their kids and their money. Unfortunately, in a school bond election, those two meet on a collision course.

"We are pleased that the bond has passed, and are ready to go forward with planning and construction on a facility that we feel will provide the best and safest educational setting possible for our young people."

Cherokee County, as well as state voters, approved all 16 of the proposed constitutional amendments. One issue of local interest, Proposition 4, earmarked $2.6 million for Rusk State Hospital. The $1 billion bond package will fund improvements at 11 state agencies. Statewide returns were 79 percent complete at 10 p.m. Tuesday.