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Voters say 'No' to Williams Unified School District $5 million bond
27 percent of voters turn out for Nov 8 election

Ceiling tiles rest in netting installed in the Williams High School gym as a safety precaution.

Ceiling tiles rest in netting installed in the Williams High School gym as a safety precaution.

WILLIAMS, Ariz. - A $5 million bond for capital improvements in the Williams Unified School District (WUSD) was quashed by Williams voters at the polls Nov. 8. Citizens voted down the bond with 53 percent voting no and 46 percent voting yes. Turnout was 27 percent. Of 2,998 registered voters, 810 took the time to vote.

Passage of the bond would have allowed the district to complete a variety of safety-related construction projects for both the Williams High School and Williams Elementary-Middle School (WEMS).

Last year, voters turned down a $5.5 million capitol improvements bond, with more than 53 percent voting no on the bond and nearly 47 percent voting yes, mirroring yesterday's election.

This time around, the proposed school improvement bond focused on a set of more specific school facilities in need of repair. If approved, $2,001,000 of the funds would have been used to finish repairs of the WEMS roof begun with emergency funding. Work included removing existing double roofing, patching structural roof deck and replacing the double roofing with a new single ply roofing system.

Vehicle circulation, parking and improvements to the bus storage building also would have benefited from the bond funding. The WEMS softball field would have received an overhaul due to an invasion of prairie dogs, rendering the field unsafe for children.

At the high school, repairs were limited to the gymnasium. Approximately $2,399,000 was needed to re-roof the gym, demolish and reconstruct interior of shower, locker and dressing room areas, correct safety issues and replace curtains on stage, build new public restrooms and concession area, install new backstops, scoreboard and lighting and refinish the wood floor. Plans also included stage reconstruction because it isn't ADA compliant.

Costs to taxpayers were estimated to be $32 annually for homes valued at $100,000. Under Arizona law, bond issues must be approved by 15 percent of registered voters who voted in the last election. Once a bond has been approved, school districts are obligated to hold public hearings to inform the public on how bond funds are spent.


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