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Approval rates of local school bond and tax questions in 2011, July-December
This page lists the statistics for school bond, tax and budget votes held in the second half of 2011 in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin as well as four additional states (New Mexico, New Jersey, New York and Texas) which are not covered in detail on the website but have government databases which list election results for some school issues following the public votes.
Of the 11 states tracked in detail by the reporter, only Illinois and Florida did not to have any school measures on their local ballots in the second half of 2011 (July - December, 2011). Illinois, however, did have measures in the first half of the year.
The overall approval rate, including both "school bond" and "tax" votes in the selected nine states[1] was 46.6% and the adjusted approval rate was 68.1%. The adjusted rate refers to the addition of the states of New Mexico and Texas with their election information about school bonds for the entire year of 2011. (Note: This rating does not include votes on school budget issues.)
The average approval rating for "school tax" votes had the lowest overall approval rating with the average being 47.9% in the nine states[1] with school tax votes. The average approval rating for "school bond elections" was higher with an approval rating set at 57.1% in a total of 11 states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin).
The 121 school bond measures voted on in 2011 totaled $7.79 billion. Of the $7.79 billion on the ballot, $2.95 billion was approved (37.8%).
| Type of school finance measure | # of elections 2011 (2010) | # of approvals 2011 (2010) | % approved 2011 (2010) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonds | 86 (48) | 36 (49) | 70.5% (49.5%) |
| Taxes, tax levies | 280 (184) | 135 (139) | 67.47% (56.97%) |
| Totals: | 366 (232) | 169 (323) | 68.4% (41.8%) |
| Bonds (Adjusted)[2] | 166 | 75 | 68.9% |
| Totals: | 446 (232) | 209 (323) | 67.1% (41.8%) |
School Bond Votes
- See also: List of 2011 School bond measures
Of the seven states which had bond measures on their ballots in the second half of the year only two states - Arizona and California - had more measures approved than defeated. Overall approval of bonds for the second half of the year was 42.4%.
Michigan had the most school bonds voted on with a total of 19 measures, only 9 were approved leading to an approval rating of 47%. Oregon had the lowest rating, just 2 bond measures were asked and both were defeated by voters. Only California had an approval rating approved 70%, 8 bond measures were proposed and 6 were approved, 75% approval.
The table also includes the states of New Mexico and Texas which have state databases listing all the school bond elections for the year. However, those were not followed in detail throughout the year on Ballotpedia.
- For a look at the statistics from the January-July 2011, click here.
|
Legend Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50% |
| State | Approved | Defeated | % approved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 10 | 5 | 67% |
| California | 6 | 2 | 75% |
| Colorado | 4 | 10 | 28% |
| Michigan | 9 | 10 | 47% |
| New Mexico[3] | 11 | 1 | 92% |
| Ohio | 5 | 15 | 25% |
| Oregon | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Texas[4] | 70 | 38 | 65% |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 5 | 37.5% |
| Totals: | 118 | 88 | 57.3% |
Total Bond Money
The table below shows how much money was voted on in bond measures for local schools. The amounts show how much bond money was approved in the state and how much did not get approved, totals are in millions and includes ALL the measures in 2011, NOT just the second half of the year.
Only the state of Florida did not have any school bonds for the year, of the ten that did have school bond elections only two, Arizona and Missouri, had approval ratings above 50%. California is the only state which had more bonds approved but had more money defeated than approved.
Note: The percentage in the chart below represents the percentage of bond money that was approved and not the approval rating of the total number of questions that appeared before voters.
|
Legend Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50% |
| State | Amount Approved | Amount Defeated | % approved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $709.8 M | $54.8 M | 93% |
| California | $981.1 M | $1,392 M | 41% |
| Colorado | $105 M | $696.62 M | 13% |
| Florida | $0 M | $0 M | N/A |
| Illinois | $39.27 M | $326.66 M | 11% |
| Michigan | $374.45 M | $667.06 M | 36% |
| Missouri | $204.09 M | $16.425 M | 93% |
| New Jersey[5] | $374.45 M | $667.06 M | 36% |
| New Mexico[6] | $63.7 M | $2.3 M | 96.52% |
| Texas[7] | $4,303.55 M | $1469.5 M | 74.55% |
| Ohio | $202.3 M | $445.11 M | 31% |
| Oregon | $244.5 M | $738.8 M | 25% |
| Washington | $91.49 M | $224.7 M | 29% |
| Wisconsin | $89.105 M | $278.295 M | 24.3% |
| Totals: | $7,687,810,000 | $6,979,330,000 | 52.41% |
School Property Tax Votes
Of the nine states which had property tax measures on their ballots for the second half of the year only four states, California, Michigan, Washington and Wisconsin, had more measures approved than defeated. Overall approval of property tax measures for the second half of the year was just 47.9%.
Ohio had the most school property tax measures voted on with a total of 188 measures, but their approval rating was 46%. Both Oregon and Missouri had approval ratings of 0%, but both states only had one measure asked and it was defeated. California had the highest approval rating, 88%, though only 8 measures were asked of voters.
- For a look at the statistics from the January-July 2011, click here.
|
Legend Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50% |
| State | Approved | Defeated | % approved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 1 | 3 | 25% |
| California | 7 | 2 | 77.78% |
| Colorado | 4 | 17 | 19% |
| Michigan | 24 | 14 | 63% |
| Missouri | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Ohio | 87 | 101 | 46% |
| Oregon | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Washington | 5 | 4 | 56% |
| Wisconsin | 6 | 4 | 60% |
| Totals: | 134 | 147 | 47.7% |
School Budget
- See also: List of 2011 School budget measures
Arizona was the only state covered in detail by the writer which had elections which dealt with school budgets, but state databases in New Jersey and New York allow for additional state statistics from those states not covered in full detail.
- For a look at the statistics from the January-July 2011, click here.
|
Legend Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50% |
| State | Approved | Defeated | % approved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 8 | 19 | 30% |
| New Jersey[8] | 429 | 109 | 80% |
| New York[9] | 633 | 45 | 93% |
| Totals: | 1,070 | 173 | 86.1% |
Totals
- See also: Local ballot measure elections in 2011
This table is a summary of all school issues that were voted on the from July-December 2011, though the overall ballot statistics page includes school issues, this table looks at school issue measures in more detail.
- For a look at the statistics from the January-July 2011, click here.
|
Legend Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50% |
| State | Approved | Defeated | % approved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 20 | 27 | 43% |
| California | 13 | 4 | 76.% |
| Colorado | 8 | 27 | 23% |
| Michigan | 33 | 24 | 58% |
| Missouri | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| New Mexico | 11 | 1 | 92% |
| New Jersey | 429 | 109 | 80% |
| New York | 633 | 45 | 93% |
| Ohio | 96 | 139 | 41% |
| Oregon | 0 | 3 | 0% |
| Texas | 70 | 38 | 65% |
| Washington | 5 | 4 | 56% |
| Wisconsin | 9 | 9 | 50% |
| Totals: | 1,327 | 431 | 75.5% |
See also
- Local ballot measure elections in 2011
- School bond and tax elections in 2011
- Where to find information about local school bond and tax elections
- Approval rates of local school bond and tax questions in 2011, January-July
- School bond and tax elections in 2011
- Local ballot measure statistics, 2011
Articles
- Approval rating for school bond and tax issues falter in 11 states
- School bonds fared lower approval ratings with nearly $8 billion voted on in 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Including Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin
- ↑ Note: The Adjusted number includes two additional states, New Mexico, and Texas which have state databases giving election results for school bond proposals held throughout the year. The two additional state statistics are for the entire year of 2011, not split as the other states have been.
- ↑ New Mexico Bonds, Bond Election Results
- ↑ Texas State Bond Review Board, Bond Election Results
- ↑ December Vote Ends Difficult Year for School Construction Referendums, December 11, 2013
- ↑ RESULTS OF BOND ELECTIONS AROUND NEW MEXICO
- ↑ Texas Bond Review Board, 2011 Figures
- ↑ New Jersey School Board Association, Annual School Budget Election Results
- ↑ New York State Education Management Services, Budget Vote Results
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