SLAYTON — The Murray County Central School District’s special election for an operating levy increase, to revoke and replace its current referendum, was approved on Tuesday with unofficial results showing a 52% passing rate. Preliminary results show 548 votes in favor, with 510 votes opposing.  

MCC, who’s been operating on a levy for years, was asking district residents to revoke the current voter-approved referendum revenue of $625.69 per pupil, and replace it with a new authorization of $1,310.69 per pupil, which will net increase the district’s general education revenue by $685 per pupil. 

The last increase made to MCC’s levy came in 2006, which did not have an inflationary factor attached. The current operating levy was renewed in 2019 at the same rate of the 2006 levy amount. 

The MCC district had made nearly $400,000 in budget reductions for the current school year, while also facing financial challenges with state funding not keeping up with the rate of inflation along with underfunded state mandates. MCC also detailed that upon a failed vote, more cuts to staff and student programs were expected to take place next school year. 

The new increased levy will help MCC maintain reasonable class sizes, retain teachers and staffing, continue offering CTE and college readiness courses and opportunities, and maintain academic, athletic and extracurricular opportunities.