Ballots for the USD 489 local option budget tax question must be returned to the Ellis County Clerk’s office no later than noon Friday to be counted.

As of 8 a.m. Thursday, 35 percent of the active, qualified voter ballots had been returned.

The ballots ask voters to approve a 1 percent increase in the LOB, a move designed to generate approximately $200,000 for the cash-strapped school district. Should the measure to move from 30 percent to 31 percent be approved, the Legislature has given local school districts the option of increasing the LOB up to 33 percent for one year only, after which it would revert to 31 percent.

Greg Schwartz, USD 489 Board of Education president, has said such an option is likely should voters OK the 1 percent increase.

The clerk’s office will begin tallying the vote at noon Friday, and an Ellis County Commission canvass of the election is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at the courthouse.

Related story: More information on LOB vote.

Click HERE for more USD 489’s informational page on the local option budget question.