"I know just because we've won this victory ... they (the Aiken County school district) expected this to happen," said Jane Page Thompson, of the Vote No group.

With 78 of 78 precincts reporting, 13,716 voters opposed the measure and 5,744 favored it.

"I'm sorry it didn't pass," said Barry Adams of Security Federal Bank, the chairman of the Vote Yes for Kids group. "I truly think it's the right thing to do, but the great thing about living in this nation is that majority rules, and today a majority of the voters said, 'Nope, it's not the right thing to do, or it's not the right time, or it's not the right amount of money.' "

The bond issue got significant support in Saluda County, home of Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary/Middle, with all of the precincts supporting the referendum.

In the cities of Aiken and North Augusta, where support for the referendum was expected to be greater, less than a handful of precincts favored it.

The school board and administrators will now have to decide how they will use an annual estimated $14 million to repair and upgrade facilities.

Deputy Superintendent David Caver said Jackson Middle School would be at the top of that list. The school's cafeteria area was scheduled for a major renovation before the bond referendum was put on the ballot.

Superintendent Beth Everitt said it was too soon to say whether the district would pursue another referendum anytime soon, but she thought the research conducted on facility needs was healthy and useful in helping shape long-term plans.

"I think the conversation and the questions that were asked, all of that helps inform our community," she said. "Even though we didn't win, I still think it's been a great process. We'll move forward."

Comments (57)

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15 POINTS

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Points

Chillen 05/25/10 - 08:26 pm

Might be a little early to

Might be a little early to say but looks like a no to me. The voters have spoken.

Luckily at the local level voters have a "say" in whether or not their money will be spent. I wish we were that lucky on a federal level and didn't have to wait until November to begin changing the guards/spenders.

8 POINTS

annw 05/25/10 - 08:38 pm

When you pander to the useful

When you pander to the useful idiots with messages of hate, fear, bigotry, greed and selfishness this is what you get -- people who only care about their own self interest and don't care about what is best for the whole county. Just more moral bankruptcy from the backward looking Repugs.

0 POINTS

jb1234 05/25/10 - 08:51 pm

Well, it looks like Aiken

Well, it looks like Aiken County Public Schools will remain in the 1950s. Way to go citizens!

109 POINTS

109

crackerjack 05/25/10 - 08:56 pm

I don't see anything wrong

I don't see anything wrong with trying to protect your nest egg that you worked hard and saved for 30 to 40 years, only to have it taken a little at a time by a bunch of worthless buzzards,(politicians), and given to the dregs of society, of which encompasses all ethnicities. They need to increase the sales tax by a couple of pennies, to help encourage equal rights. That way everyone gets to pay their fair share.

19 POINTS

rcpasc48 05/25/10 - 08:56 pm

annw said: "When you pander

annw said:
"When you pander to the useful idiots with messages of hate, fear, bigotry"
You sound like you are an expert.
"Useful idiots" is not playing nice. It's called hate. It's not debate. It's not civil. It is just plain disagreement with your stand on the issue and nothing more.
And methinks you are calling a lot of democrats that voted "no" "repugs". The vote ratio does not support the democrat and republican demographics of Aiken County. Face it. A lot of democrats voted "no."

jb1234 05/25/10 - 08:57 pm

Give me a break crackerjack,

Give me a break crackerjack, if you can't spare an extra $100 to $200 PER YEAR to allow the students to learn in a proper environment, then may the Lord help you. Also, if your 'nest egg' is going to be used up by an extra 100 bucks a year, then it's really not much of a nest egg to begin with is it?

244 POINTS

244

Connor Threlkeld 05/25/10 - 08:58 pm

I have a feeling when they

I have a feeling when they try this again in a few years (which they will have to because the problems remain), it will cost a lot more money to do the same thing (or the same amount to do less work) because the recession will likely be over and construction demand will have risen, driving contractor prices higher.

crackerjack 05/25/10 - 09:01 pm

jb You evidently are more in

jb You evidently are more in touch with the SC School System than I am. The new schools that have been built around the state, have improved the environment, but to say it will "allow the students to learn in a proper environment" is not supported in those schools test scores of the students after 4 years in that "new" school.

crackerjack 05/25/10 - 09:05 pm

The teachers that aren't up

The teachers that aren't up to par, need to be re-trained or phased out. Unfortunately, they are protected by their Union affiliation. But to build a new school without changing out some of the failing teachers, is like taking a bath, and putting the same underwear back on.

nofrills 05/25/10 - 09:05 pm

its not the repairing or

its not the repairing or building of new schools we are against. Its all the extras we dont need in these trouble times. Like a 7 million dollar football field or 30 million for an auditorium. its wasteful spending like this that killed the bond.

jb1234 05/25/10 - 09:05 pm

Connor, anytime you talk

Connor, anytime you talk about raising taxes (no matter how much or how little), the people are going to oppose it (no matter how worthy the cause). The only problem is, like you said, these projects will still have to be completed, but unfortunately the costs to complete them will be higher, and the taxpayers will be footing a higher bill.

rcpasc48 05/25/10 - 09:06 pm

jb1234 says: "Give me a

jb1234 says: "Give me a break crackerjack, if you can't spare an extra $100 to $200 PER YEAR to allow the students to learn in a proper environment, then may the Lord help you."
----------------
Are you one of the ones that are generous with other people's money. Straw man example here: It is good that you aren't living on a shoestring budget because of a devasting illness in the family or have recently lost your job and are border line losing your home. There are straws that break the backs of financially strapped people. What safeguards would prevent someone losing their family home because of a higher tax? I have a suggestion. Why don't you start an special education fund and donate a couple hundred every year? Why don't you start a volunteer program similar to Habitat to Humanity to make the schools better and donate a few hours each week to making the kids environment better?

When can I expect to read about it in the Chronicle?

SeniorMom 05/25/10 - 09:18 pm

I appreciate the Chronicle's

I appreciate the Chronicle's honesty in reporting the issue compared to other print media. Bottom line is that this bond package was too expensive and loaded with FAT. Since when do we need a $7 million sports complex to educate students? We need to return to the basics and focus on instruction and not adding more Brookhaven jobs. Today's vote is an indictment on the school board and administration.

Eliminate area offices and half of administration before I vote yes. Why was this election held 5/25 and not June 8 to save money? Aiken County tried to sneak this bologna by everyone with a nice quiet vote. People aren't stupid even though most educators think they are. The people have SPOKEN loud and clear!

42460 POINTS

42460

dwb619 05/25/10 - 09:15 pm

Just think how many more

Just think how many more non-teaching $100K + administrators they could have had if this had passed. By the way, I tend to vote Democrat.

baronvonreich 05/25/10 - 09:26 pm

nofrills is correct. The

nofrills is correct. The bloated bond was spending a huge portion on non-academic structures that aren't necessary. Then you have the school board who was not forthcoming with a good plan on when and where they were gonna build and what they were going to do with the old buildings. They also weren't forthcoming about how the bond was also going to tax personal property like cars, boats, RVs, etc. Then they rushed the referendum today at a cost of nearly $50,000 instead of waiting until the primary elections in June. The school board refuses to justify why its admin expenses have gone up by $20 million since 2002 or why it needs 5 area superintendents with their own offices, staff, cars, etc. It isn't like the school board has been doing a good job and people trusted them. It smelled like a bad deal all the way around and people voted no.

It doesn't matter when they hold the next bond referendum or how many they hold, they will also be voted down until these operational issues in the school system are corrected.

crackerjack 05/25/10 - 09:26 pm

dwb619 You might tend to vote

dwb619 You might tend to vote Democrat, but you evidently pay attention to the issues and know the waste involved is non-productive in increasing the students learning ability,by voting with your brain.

Connor Threlkeld 05/25/10 - 09:44 pm

This bond package did have

This bond package did have plenty of problems (limited detail provided on a quarter-billion dollar spending plan, a controversial stadium, etc.) and it was probably doomed from the start, but I don't think you can repeatedly deny funding for some of these projects because of problems with the adults involved. There are some serious problems that affect students that need to be addressed.

Ex: Handicapped children at the middle school in Graniteville can't participate in science labs because the labs are on the third floor and the wheelchair-accessible ramp was condemned by building authorities. The current building is to the point where renovations would cost only $1 million less than a completely new facility. That's a problem, no matter where you stand on the issue.

If the schools come back with a much leaner and more fiscally-responsible package, it should be given fair consideration, because there are a number of problems that do need to be taken care of. And no, the football stadium is not a 'problem' (I'm there several times a year shooting football video, it's a great venue).

crackerjack 05/25/10 - 09:58 pm

Connor Threlkeld, A new

Connor Threlkeld,
A new wheelchair accessible ramp is not that expensive, and I went to a school that had 4 stories, and there was some kind of lab, Chem, Physics, Biology, etc. on each floor. I don't think it would cost a million to move the lab to a lower floor, or put the lab in a portable.

3935 POINTS

3935

augusta citizen 10/19/12 - 09:50 am

..

1899 POINTS

1899

Austin Rhodes 05/25/10 - 09:59 pm

There are several legitimate

There are several legitimate points that the NO voters have made...but they sure are buried in a pile of bullshizzle.

This business that you people didn't know boats, cars, and RV's were taxed by the BOE...SURE they are...that is what AD VALOREM taxes ARE. Civics 101. Been that way forever. If this was in some way NEWS to you, and you are older than 25 years old...you should be ashamed of yourself.

Also...you geniuses REALLY want government entities to identify real estate plans BEFORE they are closed in PRIVATE? There is a reason that one of the FEW justifications for closing a government meeting to the public is when they make REAL ESTATE DECISIONS.

Celebrate your victory tonight...but you guys clouded the issue with more CRAP than I have ever seen tossed out in a local bond referendum.

This is tantamount to winning an election not because you were the best candidate, but because you were able to trick the voters into believing the other candidate was the Anti-Christ.

The key word being TRICKED.

baronvonreich 05/25/10 - 10:04 pm

If ifs and buts were candy

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts........Connor if the board had a much leaner, fiscally responsible, detailed plan for today then it probably would have passed and we wouldn't be discussing this. However, they went with a whole hog Obama/Pelosi style agenda of limited transparancy, pork, and refused to answer questions about current expenditures surrounding their current $14 million yearly capex expenditures and seemingly bloated operational and admin wastes. Maybe the operational and capex issues are apple and oranges but that fruit gets paid for out of the same wallets and those wallets are shut for bidness until things change.

The fact that a handicapped ramp at a school was condemned by building inspectors speaks volumes as to the maintenance, upkeep, and oversight given to Aiken County schools which also lack much in the way of transparency.

Julia Sellers 05/25/10 - 10:12 pm

I hope no matter the feelings

I hope no matter the feelings on the issue, Aiken County residents start participating in the process on more than just election day. It is a time investment, but a worthy one, nonetheless.
@seniormom Stuart Bedenbaugh with Aiken Co. Reg/Elec. said the vote can't be held the same day as the primary because a party ballot has to be chosen in the primary and the school district vote is non-partisan. The the ballots have to be a separate entity. He said the office didn't have the machines or capability to conduct two elections on the same day.

baronvonreich 05/25/10 - 10:10 pm

The facts speak for

The facts speak for themselves Austin. There was little transparency in the referendum. Aiken County has 5 area superintendents making $100k with staff et al. There is no reason for that other than bloated government bureacracy. The admin costs in the systme have increased by $20 million dollars in the past 8 years. Go build some schools with that.

Austin Rhodes 05/25/10 - 10:22 pm

Where is your outrage,

Where is your outrage, opposition, and concern over the top heavy administration during your BOE elections? Every bit of the bloat you describe will be securely in place come 8am tomorrow...and next week...next month...and next year.
You have successfully defeated a one time, over sized bond referendum, now go after your FULL TIME FAT STAFF.

Today's election was like ordering a Diet Coke...AFTER you downed three Big Macs and four orders of fries every day for the last 20 years.

irishgent 05/25/10 - 10:29 pm

To some of the poll workers

To some of the poll workers in Beech Island,it is ok to smile and be a little friendlier when voters come in.I would like to suggest that if you dont like working the polls stay home in the furture.

6 POINTS

iletuknow 05/25/10 - 11:28 pm

Head(s) should roll at the

Head(s) should roll at the Aiken County Govt bringing this ill timed,ill conceived, crude attack on the homeowners wallets.

46 POINTS

DaddyFrog 05/26/10 - 12:31 am

It was reported on the news

It was reported on the news tonight that the School Board intended to bring this to a vote again during the upcoming primary, or if that didn't work during the elections in Nov.. Also a spokeman for the Aiken County GOP said his party did not take out a full page add in the Aiken Standard endorsing a " Yes" vote. The add showed it was paid for by Republicans of Aiken County. Sounds like a little skullduggery going on to get this thing passed. That $100 on a $100,000 home would change real quick come reassesment time. The average home in Aiken Co. is about $160,000. Look into a countywide sales tax to fix these schools. And that's something else, get those maintainance guys out there, and work on these schools this summer.

6460 POINTS

6460

Techfan 05/26/10 - 05:57 am

I didn't have a dog in this

I didn't have a dog in this hunt, but to me the main problem was typical of most of the SPLOST/referendum type elections. Supporters arrange to have a separate election, often in the midst of vacation season (and in this case, leading into a holiday weekend), to essentially rig the turnout in their favor. This was especially obvious in this one, where primaries and a general election were right around the corner. Instead of minimal cost in adding the topic to one of these, they choose to try to slip it in, at an added cost of tens of thousand of dollars. Granted, both parties would have to have added it to the primary ballots, but no such problem would have been faced in November.

3738 POINTS

3738

Dixieman 05/26/10 - 06:09 am

Yay! Giving money to

Yay! Giving money to politicians (which is what this is about) is like giving Jack Daniels and car keys to a 16-year-old boy.

1736 POINTS

1736

corgimom 05/26/10 - 06:37 am

Thank God my child is grown

Thank God my child is grown and out of school.

The bond referendum was fair. Aiken County is enormous, and this referendum wanted to fix schools all over the county, not just one or two. There are schools in Aiken County that are in desperate need of repair and renovation, and a new high school for NAHS is critical.

I agree, these problems aren't going away, they are going to have to be addressed, and yes, it will cost more down the road.

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Precinct	Registered Voters/ Votes Cast	Ballots cast/ Percent of Votes	Precinct Percentage turnout
Aiken No. 1	1171	428	36.55
Yes	200	47.28
No	223	52.72
Aiken No. 2	1130	141	12.48
Yes	74	53.62
No	64	46.38
Aiken No. 3	1375	125	9.09
Yes	58	49.15
No	60	50.85
Aiken No. 4	673	81	12.04
Yes	57	71.25
No	23	28.75
Aiken No. 5	1139	248	21.77
Yes	109	44.86
No	134	55.14
Aiken No. 6	1234	405	32.82
Yes	148	36.91
No	253	63.09
Bath No. 7	760	91	11.97
Yes	16	17.78
No	74	82.22
Beech Island 8	1388	156	11.24
Yes	46	30.07
No	107	69.93
Belvedere 9	1606	156	9.71
Yes	52	33.55
No	103	66.45
Carolina Heights 10	1012	89	8.79
Yes	34	41.46
No	48	58.54
China Springs 11	1440	52	3.61
Yes	19	36.54
No	33	63.46
Clearwater 12	634	77	12.15
Yes	11	14.47
No	65	85.53
College Acres 13	1624	321	19.77
Yes	63	19.63
No	258	80.37
Eureka 14	1130	192	16.99
Yes	41	21.58
No	149	78.42
Gloverville 15	878	160	18.22
Yes	30	18.99
No	128	81.01
Graniteville 16	1031	199	19.30
Yes	49	24.87
No	148	75.13
Jackson 17	1401	380	27.12
Yes	42	11.26
No	331	88.74
Langley 18	1151	153	13.29
Yes	17	11.26
No	134	88.74
Lynwood 19	813	143	17.59
Yes	15	10.56
No	127	89.44
Millbrook 20	1790	526	29.39
Yes	163	31.35
No	357	68.65
Monetta 21	946	171	18.08
Yes	119	71.69
No	47	28.31
Montmorenci 22	1958	453	23.14
Yes	86	19.11
No	364	80.89
New Ellenton 23	1387	286	20.62
Yes	84	29.58
No	200	70.42
New Holland 24	632	129	20.41
Yes	13	10.16
No	115	89.84
N. Augusta 25	1276	157	12.30
Yes	57	36.31
No	100	63.69
N. Augusta 26	1709	221	12.93
Yes	79	36.24
No	139	63.76
N. Augusta 27	1477	415	28.10
Yes	185	45.23
No	224	54.77
N. Augusta 28	1114	298	26.75
Yes	101	34.01
No	196	65.99
N. Augusta 29	1078	184	17.07
Yes	64	34.97
No	119	65.03
Oak Grove 30	704	79	11.22
Yes	24	30.38
No	55	69.62
Perry 31	640	116	18.13
Yes	29	25.00
No	87	75.00
Salley 32	582	73	12.54
Yes	21	28.77
No	52	71.23
Shaws Fork 33	521	128	24.57
Yes	22	17.60
No	103	82.40
Shiloh 34	1471	299	20.33
Yes	80	27.03
No	216	72.97
Six Points 35	1427	388	27.19
Yes	113	29.20
No	274	70.80
Tabernacle 36	504	92	18.25
Yes	26	29.55
No	62	70.45
Talatha 37	1199	220	18.35
Yes	42	19.53
No	173	80.47
Vaucluse 38	686	147	21.43
Yes	39	27.08
No	105	72.92
Wagener 39	1646	207	12.58
Yes	53	26.37
No	148	73.63
Ward 40	1241	249/ 20.06
Yes	93	37.96
No	152	62.04
Warrenville 41	1325	275	20.75
Yes	41	15.30
No	227	84.70
White Pond 42	643	83	12.91
Yes	15	18.99
No	64	81.01
Windsor 43	1717	200	11.65
Yes	34	17.80
No	157	82.20
Belvedere 44	1229	154	12.53
Yes	53	34.64
No	100	65.36
Misty Lakes 45	1367	199	14.56
Yes	44	22.22
No	154	77.78
Six Points 46	1270	129	10.16
Yes	79	62.70
No	47	37.30
Aiken No. 47	1085	308	28.39
Yes	130	42.48
No	176
Hammond 48	1670	283	16.95
Yes	62	22.14
No	218	77.86
Willow Sprgs 49	1210	195	16.12
Yes	32	16.58
No	161	83.42
Breezy Hill 50	1390	303	21.80
Yes	83	27.57
No	218	72.43
Midland Valley 51	1679	400	23.82
Yes	85	21.46
No	311	78.54
Levels 52	1867	320	17.14
Yes	110	34.92
No	205	65.08
Hollow Creek 53	2934	1015	34.59
Yes	223	22.19
No	782	77.81
N. Augusta 54	1026	113	11.01
Yes	34	30.63
No	77	69.37
N. Augusta 55	1026	113	11.01
Yes	34	30.63
No	77	69.37
Couchton 56	1254	254	20.26
Yes	39	15.42
No	214	84.58
Redds Branch 57	908	146	16.08
Yes	24	16.78
No	119	83.22
Fox Creek 58	1554	302	19.43
Yes	130	43.48
No	169	56.52
Pine Forest 59	1103	168	15.23
Yes	24	14.46
No	142	85.54
Gem Lakes 60	2415	876	36.27
Yes	311	35.62
No	562	64.38
Silver Bluff 61	1579	199	12.60
Yes	85	43.81
No	109	56.19
Belvedere 62	1081	140	12.95
Yes	47	35.61
No	85	64.39
Ascauga Lake 63	2138	292	13.66
Yes	123	42.12
No	169	57.88
Cedar Creek 64	2904	1008	34.71
Yes	166	16.60
No	834	83.40
Sleepy Hollow 65	1627	476	29.26
Yes	119	25.32
No	351	74.68
Hitchcock 66	1029	353	34.31
Yes	119	34.00
No	231	66.00
N. Augusta 67	1033	282	27.30
Yes	120	42.70
No	161	57.30
N. Augusta 68	1237	269	21.75
Yes	94	35.07
No	174	64.93
Anderson Pond 69	1171	499	42.61
Yes	100	20.08
No	398	79.92
Sandstone 70	1772	378	21.33
Yes	114	30.32
No	262	69.68
Midland Valley 71	783	167	21.33
Yes	26	15.76
No	139	84.24
Levels 72	729	154	21.12
Yes	52	33.77
No	102	66.23
Fox Creek 73	788	241	30.58
Yes	90	37.50
No	150	62.50
Absentee
Yes	233	33.14
No	470	66.86

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70 percent say 'no' on Aiken bond referendum

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