Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Petition Election topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents submit 125-signature petition asking for election; attorney says statute may prevent board-called vote
Summary
Petitioners delivered 125 signatures (about 11% of registered voters) asking the Colman-Egan board to hold an election on the proposed project; the board's attorney advised that state law (SDCL 13-16-6.2 and related sections) may prohibit a board-initiated election when capital outlay certificates do not exceed 1.5% of taxable valuation.
Petitioners delivered a letter and 125 signatures—about 11% of the district's registered voters—asking the board to call an election on the proposed athletic project. "Please take these petitions calling for an election seriously," the letter said, and argued that taxpayers should have a voice before the district spends what petitioners described as thousands of dollars on site surveys and preconstruction work.
The board's legal counsel reviewed relevant statutes by letter (read aloud by the superintendent). The attorney's summary cited SDCL 13-16-6.2 and related sections, stating in the attorney's view that if capital outlay certificates authorized by the board do not exceed 1.5% of the district's taxable valuation, the statute prevents the district from holding an election and therefore a board-initiated vote is not permitted. Board members and petitioners disputed statutory interpretation and asked for the attorney's written memo to be provided to the petitioners. The board said it would follow counsel's advice while noting petitioners had the option to pursue further legal avenues.
