More than two weeks after ballots were mailed to voters, the results of a mail-in tax question is finally known.

The local option budget increase sought by Hays USD 489 failed by a near two-to-one margin, YES-1,794; NO-3,425.

Ellis County Clerk Donna Maskus said 5,221 ballots qualified  of the 13,642 mailed to eligible voters. The count began at noon Friday.

All ballot envelopes had been opened by 6:20 p.m., and the final tally completed about 6:45 p.m.

According to Maskus, there were two “under” — or unmarked — ballots.

The voter turnout was 38.27 percent.

The LOB increase from 30 to 31 percent was designed to generate approximately $200,000 for the school district, although the board already had indicated it would use the authority granted by the Legislature to hike the LOB up to 2 additional percentage points for a year.

Hays school board member Lance Bickle said the likely hike to 33 percent was a “concern” to some voters he had talked with.

“I’m disappointed by the results, but not really surprised,” Bickle said.  “We (school board members) will have to find new ways to create more efficiencies.  It’s an ever-going process.”

The school board also said it would have used the additional revenue to restore positions cut earlier this spring that will cause an increase elementary class sizes in 2014-15.

For more on the LOB issue, election and reaction, check Hays Post.