Small number of voters seal Muncie school bus fate

In Tuesday’s referendum to decide the fate of a proposed property tax rate for Muncie Community Schools, only 8,263 of 50,682 local registered voters — 16.3 percent — turned out to vote.

Of that number, just under 54 percent voted “No” — enough to turn back a proposed 22 cent property tax rate that would have generated more than $3 million in revenue to continue school bus service for MCS students.

That turnout was low in contrast to the most recent comparable election, the city election of November 2011. In that election, 17,267 people voted for a turnout percentage of 29.5 percent.