Having lost a major bond issue vote for the second time in two years, officials with one Metro area school district are promising to listen better.

At stake was $119 million, all on the taxpayers.

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Officials at one Metro area school district have been hoping the 2nd time is the charm. Voters in Bennington have been asked to shell out millions of dollars to OK a hefty bond issue.

Two years ago, voters here shot down a $150 million dollar bond issue, that was largely aimed at building a 2nd high school.

This year’s bond issue, with Bennington High getting more and more crowded is only about that 2nd high school, and the voters have spoken.

In this heavily Republican school district, 49 percent Republican, 27 percent Independent, and 23 percent Democrat the bond issue, once again came up short.

Against 51 percent, in favor 49 percent.

Tracee Baker, Opposed Bond Issue (WOWT): “I do hope this brings us together to overall look at the big picture with our debt.”

The school district responded to the vote saying, “We hear you, and we are committed to listening even more closely to the needs and concerns of our community as we move forward.”

In 2022 67 percent of the voters here voted against the bond issue, which would have raised property taxes on a $500,000 home an estimated $490 a year.

This time around that had been cut in half and officials said the green light would increase taxes on that $500,000 home $245 a year.

But again, the bond issue failed, again.