Funds intended to purchase a new bus for the Glenville-Emmons school district will have to come from elsewhere after the community did not pass a referendum for a new operating levy Tuesday.

The referendum would have added a new operating levy of $358 per pupil increasing annually by the rate of inflation and applicable for 10 years. According to final results from the Minnesota Secretary of State, 43.77 percent voted for the increase, while 56.23 percent voted against a tax increase.

Glenville-Emmons Superintendent Jerry Reshetar said he knows the year has been tough for the rural and agriculture-based community voting on the increase.

“With an ag-based community and farmers seeing tough ways ahead here with the price of corn and beans, not a good financial year for them,” he said. “… When things are tough, you give up some things.”

Reshetar estimated the operational levy would have increased the tax on a $70,000 home by $30-50.

The district’s aging bus will still need to be replaced, Reshetar said, but now the district will look at the option of leasing one. He said this will cost more money.

Money for a bus would come out of the general fund, but the district may need to take out a loan and pay on it for four to five years with interest. Reshetar said a bus costs approximately $94,000.

Still, Reshetar said he is not discouraged by the vote.

“I’m not disappointed,” he said. “The vote was I guess 150, 160 votes difference, so again, a lot of people out there said yes. A lot more said yes. I look at this and say, ‘OK, folks. We still need to resolve this and we will find a way to resolve this. … We will forge ahead and find a way.’”