Voters in the Harlan Community School District have defeated a proposed $28.5-million bond referendum for District improvements that would have increased property taxes. According to the Shelby County Auditor’s Office, Proposition “A”, the issuance of a General Obligation Bond to fund the facility updates, was defeated by a vote of 947-No (73.64%) to 339 Yes (26.36%). Proposition “B”, authorizing an increase in the tax levy by $4.05/$1,000 taxable property value, was defeated by a vote of 898 No (70.10%) to 383 Yes (29/90%).

Proposition “C”, an extension of the PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy), was denied by a vote of 729 No votes (56.82%) to 554 (43.18%) Yes votes. And, Proposition “D”, an extension of the ISL (Instructional Support Levy), was denied by a vote of 733 No votes (57.27%) to 547 Yes votes (42.73%). Harlan School District voters also voted down the IWCC bond measure for improvements to Iowa Western Community College’s Council Bluffs campus. The vote in Harlan was 674 No votes (52.62%) to 607 Yes votes (47.38%).