BOLD-area voters reject new school, athletic facility in referendum

On Tuesday, BOLD school district voters rejected two bond referendums that, if passed, would have approved the district spending over $62 million on a new PreK-12 school and new athletic complex.

The first referendum asked residents of Olivia, Bird Island, and Lake Lillian to replace the current, nearly 100-year old high school with a new $57.4 million facility in Olivia. The second question asked residents for approval to spend an additional $5.2 million for a new football field, eight-lane track, and equipment storage facility.

School officials estimated that if both the high school and the athletic complex were approved, it would have increased taxes on a typical house in the district by about $250 a year.