Referendum fails; Siren School District faces $1.6 million shortfall as board urges a detailed plan before reasking voters
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Summary
The Siren School District's special board meeting on April 13 confirmed the referendum failed (452–540), and board leaders said the district now faces an estimated $1.6 million deficit for the next year and should present a concrete plan if it asks voters again this fall.
The chair opened a special meeting on April 13 and reported that the district's referendum did not pass, receiving 452 votes in favor and 540 against, a difference of 88 votes. "The referendum did not pass. It fell short by 88 votes," the chair said, reading the results.
Why it matters: board members said the failed referendum leaves the district facing a steeper budget gap than anticipated. The chair told the board the district is forecasting roughly a $1,600,000 deficit for the upcoming year, up from a $700,000 shortfall at the start of the school year, and attributed the change to rising costs and decreased state and federal revenues rather than new hiring. "By the time we hit January, it was 1.6," the chair said, noting that costs went up and revenues fell.
Board discussion centered on next steps. The chair said comparisons with other districts offered limited guidance for local planning and urged that, if the board decides to seek another referendum in the fall, it should present a clear, actionable plan that demonstrates how the district will use the funds and what structural changes will accompany new revenue proposals. "If the board chooses to do so in the fall, I would hope that they would have a plan to reflect the extra thought that's being put forth into it," the chair said.
Board members acknowledged potential cuts and the limits of reductions. The chair emphasized that certain costs—such as salaries and essential services—cannot be eliminated without affecting operations: "There's no possible financial way... that we're going to be able to cut 1,600,000," the chair said, adding that some fund balance will likely be used and that the district could be in a worse financial position in subsequent years if revenues do not improve.
No formal decision to place a new referendum on the ballot was made during the meeting. The chair encouraged thoughtful planning and community engagement before any future ballot measure.
The board moved on to personnel matters later in the meeting, including the finance director's resignation and a vote to convene a closed session to discuss staffing and related issues.
