BENTONVILLE — The $128 million cost of a second high school package was the leading reason voters turned down a millage increase June 26, results from a survey done by the Bentonville School District show.
The survey was sent via mail to 8,842 voters who participated in the millage election, according to a district news release. Postcards with prepaid postage were mailed Aug. 24.
More than 1,700 postcards were returned to the district.
The cost was the main reason 505 respondents did not support the millage, the release stated. The impact on property taxes was chosen by 317 people and 226 people said they voted against the millage because of the cost of athletic facilities.
A 6.7-mill increase was proposed to pay for a new 2,000-student second high school in Centerton, remodeling Bentonville High School, technology and heating upgrades and cooling systems districtwide.
If the millage had passed, the district would have received $128 million for the projects. Of that, $94 million would have gone to build the second high school. The increase would have pushed the district’s millage to 50.4 mills, the highest in the state.