March 19, 2024

SWCC’s 6-cent levy passes

Snodgrass, Zumbach re-elected to school board

Union County voters overwhelmingly extended Southwestern Community College’s 6-cent levy during Tuesday’s school elections.

The public measure received 374 yes votes to 89 no votes, easily passing. The measure needed just a simple majority to be approved.

All 15 Iowa community colleges have 6-cent levies in place. Funds gathered from the 6-cent levy are used by SWCC to purchase instructional classroom equipment.

“I’m ecstatic about it. It’s extremely vital for us to continue to offer high quality career and technical programs, to allow them to utilize the tools and equipment the graduates will utilize when they get on the job,” said Bill Taylor, vice president of instruction. “To pass with a margin like that shows the public has confidence we will continue to offer these high quality programs.”

Taylor said the type of equipment purchased with the funds created by the levy include classroom technology, such as computers, and equipment for the career and technical programs.

“It really helps every class, every student in this institution. And not only here in Creston, but also at the centers in Red Oak and Osceola, helps equip those classrooms with the latest technology that’s out there,” Taylor said. “I just want to thank the public for showing confidence in Southwestern and giving us a positive vote on this.”

Creston Community School District

In Creston Community School District’s Board of Directors election, both Sharon Snodgrass and Galen Zumbach were re-elected to their posts on the board. Zumbach received 332 votes and Snodgrass received 331 votes.

With only two candidates running for three openings on CCSD’s Board of Directors, one vacancy was left to be filled by write-in votes.

According to the Union County Auditor’s Office, write-in votes are expected to be tabulated by Thursday. More information will be published in the Creston News Advertiser when results become available.

Voter turnout

A total of 88 absentee ballots were returned for Tuesday’s school elections, while 392 Union County residents voted at polling locations.

Only 5.92 percent of Union County’s 8,106 registered voters exercised their right to vote in Tuesday’s election.

According to the Union County Auditor’s Office website, that number is better than the 2014 school special election, when only 1.56 percent of the Creston’s 6,102 registered voters voted.

The 2013 school election saw 10.31 percent of Union County’s 7,955 registered voters cast a ballot.

Voter turnout numbers were not available on the Union County Auditor’s Office website for years after 2014.