Video by Ricky Kerr
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
A steady stream of voters filed into the Hays American Legion 1305 Canterbury on Tuesday morning casting votes for a $94 million bond issue for Hays USD 489 building improvements.
Despite anecdotal evidence, including an informal poll conducted by Hays Post on Monday, suggesting supporters of the bond issue were facing an uphill battle, several voters who spoke with Hays Post at the polling site were giving the bond issue a 50/50 chance.
“I think it is going to be a close one,” said voter James Leiker, who previously served on the Hays USD 489 Board of Education and worked with the Fund Our Future First committee. “There’s a very large voter turnout. I’ve talked to hundreds of people, and it’s basically a 50/50 split.”
A high turnout today would coincide with the turnout for advanced voting in which 1,448 people cast ballots out of 14,778 eligible voters – a rate of almost 10 percent, according to Donna Maskus, Ellis County clerk.
Bond supporter Nicole Feyerherm, Hays, said she grew up in the district and has seen first-hand the facility needs over the last few years.
“I really believe the schools need the money,” she said. “I would like to say that I’m optimistic that it would pass,” but was also unsure the majority of Hays voters feels the same.
Another Hays voter, Rick Keltner — a Hays High teacher and coach — also supported all three questions of the bond issue but also said he knew there are other opinions out there and was supportive of everyone’s right to a different opinion.
“Everybody has reasons for the way they vote, and I respect that,” he said.
Polling sites will be open until 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Eligible voters will poll at one of two locations – one for qualified Hays voters and one for qualified voters from outside the city.
Hays voters will poll at the American Legion, and qualified voters from the district outside of the city will poll at St. Nicholas of Myra Parish, 2901 E. 13th.
Potential voters are asked to bring qualified identification in order to cast a ballot.
Ballots will have three questions: One totaling $8.9 million for new multi-purpose rooms at Hays High and Hays Middle Schools, one for $85 million to be used for deferred maintenance, classroom expansion, renovations and safety and security upgrades, and a sales tax proposal that would help fund the bond issue through a sales tax within the city of Hays.
The half-cent sales tax would only apply within the city of Hays, and if passed, would take effect next year after the expiration of a countywide sales tax that was used for county projects, including renovations at the Ellis County Courthouse and a new Emergency Services building.
The first two questions can be passed independently, but the sales tax question is contingent upon a successful bond election.
For residents interested in the outcome – or just wanting to socialize with fellow supporters – the district has planned a watch party at the Rockwell Administration Center, 323 W. 12th, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.