Schools

Dixon Could be Headed for More Expensive School Board Election

Dixon Unified is one of the few government agencies in Solano County to not reschedule its election; this will increase its costs come November.

The Dixon Unified School District could soon have a unique distinction: It could be one of the only Solano County government bodies not to reschedule its election.

In an effort to consolidate with state elections and raise voter turnout, several cities and school districts in the county have voted to move their elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years.

The changes, which still have to be approved by the Solano County Board of Supervisors, would give elected officials an extra year in office to align their terms with the new election dates.

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Dixon Unified trustees said last month they weren't comfortable giving themselves extra time in office without getting voter input first.

"I'm not sure if this is the right thing for us to do at this point in time just given the lack of opportunity for discussion with our community," Dixon Unified Superintendent Brian Dolan said at a board meeting in early March. He said the board would need to decide that day in order to meet a deadline set by the board of supervisors.

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Dixon Unified is one of five government agencies not moving toward a switch, and each will pay more to host an election this fall if the changes are approved.

Dixon, the city of Vallejo, the Travis Unified School District, the Cordelia Fire Protection District and the Solano Irrigation District will share the full cost of the election. Normally, 12 agencies participate in odd-year elections in Solano County, and the elections cost $800,000 or $900,000 to run, Solano County Assistant Registrar of Voters John Gardner said.

"They know their costs are going to go up," Gardner said of Dixon Unified, Vallejo and the others not pursuing a switch. "Because we haven't really done this small–yet big–of an election we're not sure how this is going to break out."

He said the total election will be cheaper to run–likely around $350,000–because of lower turnout and fewer agencies, but each organization will pay a larger share of that.

While they wait for action from the board of supervisors, Solano County Elections officials are planning two versions of 2013–one with all the agencies holding elections, and one with only five.

"Our planning right now is mostly focused in the city of Vallejo," Gardner said. "We know the city of Vallejo's going to be in the election."

Dixon City Council elections are in even-numbered years.

Dolan, who did not return a call seeking comment, suggested Dixon Unified trustees take up the issue again in a few months, so candidates running for the next term know it'll be for a five-year term.

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