Platteville spring election tallies are in regarding judicial and municipal positions and school district proposals.
Residents from all four districts were encouraged to vote April 7 for justice of the Supreme Court, circuit court judge, alderperson-at-large and a state referendum. Additionally, districts three and four voted for a new alderman.
One of the biggest changes voted on was the Platteville school district referendum. This referendum would allow the school district to borrow $15 million for four citywide projects: construction addition to Westview Elementary School, renovations at the middle and high school in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics facility, construction of safe and secure building entrances and maintenance upgrades and repairs to all schools.
According to the official election results, the referendum passed with a 68 percent vote. While the referendum would require the school district to borrow a large amount of money, Platteville school district superintendent Connie Valenza said the school district is in a good position moving forward.
“The referendum will help significantly,” Valenza said. “If it would not have passed, the money would come from our operating expenses.”
This year’s elections brought in 1,483 residents to the voting booths. City Clerk Jan Martin said the city had a 22 percent turnout which is 2 percent higher than state predictions.
“I think that is a good turnout for this election,” Martin said. “Given the number of college students we have in the districts, it is a good number for us.”
Martin also said that the referendum will not affect the city’s budget, which is beneficial for the school district. If the referendum would not have passed, then there would have been a change in taxes for Platteville residents.
Director of Student Centers James Ball has a child attending Westview Elementary School and is on board with the idea.
“I think it’s great that we are able to continue to provide education to students,” Ball said. “We can provide this without leveraging the existing cost to the schools and without affecting the tax payer.”
Martin also said that voters are required to bring a form of personal identification to the voting booths. In past elections, voters were not required to bring identification, but a recent change in state law requires voters to bring identification such as a driver’s license or passport.