During the recent local election cycle, Prop L was introduced to Wentzville School District area voters.
The prop’s main focus was to update both Holt High School and Heritage Elementary School, with other important updates included adding security guard shacks to Liberty and resurfacing playgrounds to make them ADA compliant, amongst other important items. The prop itself got the majority vote, but fell 23 votes short of the required margins needed for the bill to pass. The situation itself is forcing students and administration alike to ask the question “What Happens Next?”
School Board Member Julie Scott is still trying to figure out where the district goes from here after the bill not passing.
“Ultimately, there are a lot of questions that are really tough to answer right now. There’s going to be some tough conversations ahead, as we as a district navigate the loss of this Prop from passing,” Scott said.
Scott stresses that the prop contained important funding for issues that is vital to school updates.
“So many of the things that the money was supposed to cover weren’t cosmetic issues, these were updates and changes that make the legacy schools safer, more ADA compliant,” Scott said.
Recent Holt graduate Nuski Mack is disheartened to see Prop L fall short.
“It is very frustrating because this building has so many problems I think that the district just ignores,” Mack said.
Mack elaborated on some of the issues they noticed during their time at Holt.
“Pipes were always being blown in the bathrooms, constant flooding, blackouts, roof had cracks,” Mack said.
Even students at Liberty, who aren’t as impacted by the bill not passing, are frustrated about the prop not passing.
First-time voter Elizabeth Bowen (12) feels like the bill could have had a huge impact on other schools in our district.
“I was definitely a little frustrated when Prop L did not pass,” Bowen said. “Over 50% of people voted for it, but a mere 0.2% of the vote caused Prop L to miss the margin and fail, and if Prop L was passed it would have benefited many students just like me who just happen to live in a slightly different place.”
This also comes at a crossroads for the district where Liberty is at 100% capacity and Timberland and North Point are at 88% and 84% respectively, where Holt is currently only standing at around 61% capacity.
Especially at a time when the other high schools are at, or near capacity, updates to Holt could be vital to encouraging growth in that branch of the district. After all, our district can’t be at full strength until we are able to support each and every school that calls the Wentzville district home.
Todd G | Apr 24, 2025 at 2:45 pm
From a homeowner of 21 years here who voted against with respect, why?
Regular house, my year end tax bill has gone up $1500 since 2020, that’s why.
2024, $5186
2023, $5177
2022, $4385…2021, $4348…2020, $3623
Always marketed as a “no tax increase” bill. That means the the previous thing we approved years ago is done and sunset, and our tax bill should go down. Then it’s a constant piggy backing of let’s just keep that one time increase permanent, for the next thing and then the next thing.
Maybe I’ll say yes next time, maybe not, but not this time.
Debra | Apr 27, 2025 at 12:13 pm
I must agree with Todd, as a senior our taxes continually increasing puts a strain on our household budget. When we moved to Wentzville 17 years ago taxes were a lot less, the TIF areas make shopping in Wentzville for major items unaffordable, also.
I have had conversations with our Mayor regarding taxing seniors out of our homes. Sorry to say but this no vote is just the beginning of residents saying no to more taxes, and never seeing a reducing of our taxes. We all need to budget our money, time for Wentzville to do a better job in budgeting the money they receive in taxes. With the major increase in population that shouldn’t be difficult.