NATCHEZ — The majority of Adams County voters rejected a $35 million school bond issue on Tuesday’s ballot as the measure failed.

A total of 3,142 people voted against the bond issue, or 51.12 percent, and 3,004 voted for, or 48.88 percent, in the official vote count.

The Natchez-Adams School District sought approval of the bond referendum to help pay for a building program. The plan was to build a new high school, and renovate Natchez High School, Morgantown Middle School and McLaurin Elementary School.

Approving the $35 million bond issue would have raised local taxes.

Approximately 33 percent of residents voted Tuesday, or 6,170 of 18,770. Adams County Election Commissioner Larry Gardner said 62 percent of people voted in the presidential election.

“I am disappointed turnout was not more than that,” Gardner said. “This is a big issue that we need to address in this county. It is a fair turnout considering this did not get an awful lot of coverage like a presidential election, but I would like to see more people vote.”

Superintendent Fred Butcher said he is looking at the defeat with a glass half full attitude.

“We are disappointed in not receiving a clear 60 percent of the vote,” Butcher said. “The work of the district will continue.  We will continue to work hard for the growth, progress and achievement of our students.”

School board member Phillip West said he was disappointed, but not surprised.

“As far as I am concerned, I will give out before I give up,” West said. “We just have to examine the situation, and look and see what to do in the future to make it better.”

West said the school board plans to meet at 10 a.m. today, and the board would take stock of the situation.

Butcher said the issues that led to the referendum still remain in the district’s buildings, which are on average at least 50 years old.

“Our challenges and needs aren’t going away and the costs to get it done will only go up as the process is delayed,” Butcher said. “The fact remains that our schools are aging and we must address the problems now or risk more serious and costly issues later.”

The district will regroup and continue to work to resolve the issue, Butcher said.

“In the meantime, we will go back to the drawing board and determine our next steps,” Butcher said. “We will not give up on this mission because it is too important to us, our community, our school and the families that we serve.”

Concerning alternatives brought up, such as just building the high school for now, Butcher said all of the schools are in bad shape.

“To me, the most important piece in education is K to 6 because it is the foundation for all grade levels,” Butcher said. “We presented a comprehensive plan because we need it.”

Butcher said pursing a sales tax option to pay for schools — something some residents have suggested — is not legal in Mississippi.

Butcher said he wanted to thank everyone who worked with the district throughout the process.

“Many of our parents, community members, board members and employees have volunteered countless hours throughout this year-long process,” Butcher said. “Over the course of this process, we’ve had the opportunity to speak to countless people who have expressed support of our efforts and provided valuable input into what they hope to see from NASD, the needs of our students, the needs in our schools and the needs for our community.”