Voters approve local option renewal

The Sisters School District local option levy has passed with 1,858 votes in favor (54.47 percent) to 1,553 votes against (45.53 percent) according to the latest report from the Deschutes County Clerk.

The four-year levy of 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation provides about $1.1 million per year to the Sisters School District.

"The clear winners are the children of Sisters," said school board chair Christine Jones. "The coming year is a year when we'll really need local option and when it mattered the voters stepped up."

Jones said that the school district is still looking at serious cuts next year to fill a budget gap that could range from $500,000 up to $1 million depending on how the state handles a projected $3 billion deficit.

Those cuts are likely to be severe and will affect programs and staffing Jones said, although she emphasized that details of cuts have yet to be worked out.

"You're looking at a catastrophic situation without local option," she said.

The school board will address the looming budget shortfall at its meeting tonight.