Voters in South San Antonio Independent School District opposed a tax hike Tuesday evening, setting the district up for a spate of cuts to close a multimillion-dollar budget deficit.

Unofficial vote totals showed 57 percent of South San residents who voted in the tax ratification election opposed raising the local tax rate by 13 cents for every $100 of property value. Around 43 percent of the 1,853 people who cast ballots were in support of the measure.

The TRE would have raised around $6.3 million in revenue for South San, which has been struggling with declining revenue as student enrollment falls. The district, which is set to approve its budget next week — two days after the start of classes — is now faced with finding other ways to close a $6.4 million budget shortfall.

When the final election results were posted, Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra addressed supporters of the TRE who had gathered at a local restaurant, a group that included board President Angelina Osteguin and several other trustees.

“We didn’t pull it off,” Saavedra said after reading out the vote counts. “The community has spoken. We have to respect that.”

The trustees all declined to comment on the results.

Under the proposed tax increase, the maintenance and operations portion of South San’s tax rate would have risen from $1.04 to $1.17 per $100 of property value, with the overall rate increasing to $1.58 per $100. It would have amounted to an increase of about $5.42 per month on a $75,000 home, according to the district.

Saavedra attributed the failure of the TRE to a segment of “strong opposition” formed early on that he said spread “misinformation” about the state of South San’s finances and the district’s actions leading up to the election.

He said the election results would likely affect South San’s efforts to hire his successor. Earlier this year, Saavedra announced he would not seek an extension to his contract and would return to teaching at Texas A&M University. A successor is expected to be hired during the upcoming school year

“We move forward,” Saavedra said. “It means there will be a tighter budget and less opportunity for a new superintendent to introduce new programs.”

This year, as student enrollment continued to fall, South San eliminated 44 employee positions, including 22 teachers, reducing expenses by about $3 million.

As part of additional budget cuts in light of the TRE’s failure, Saavedra said he expected the district would have to cut about 30 more positions and set priorities for other reductions.

While a majority of the school board supported calling a TRE, longtime trustee Connie Prado opposed the measure.

Last month, she told the Express-News the timing for a TRE was poor. She also said the district’s finances were “in good shape.” Her husband made contributions to a political action committee formed to oppose the TRE, according to filings with the Texas Ethics Commission.

Saavedra and several trustees donated to a PAC in support of the TRE.

In a written statement after the final results were posted, Prado said the South San community had spoken “loud and clear,” despite an election that she said had included “biased media, huge special interest money and questionable tactics by the school district leadership.”

“It is time to heal and for the school district leadership to listen to those who make everything possible — our parents and taxpayers. School leadership must stop their arrogance and begin the process of inclusiveness,” the statement said.

Despite the anticipated budget cuts, Saavedra said the district would move forward with the opening of specialized academies at its three middle school campuses and a retooled health science program at the high school when classes begin Monday.

Lauren Caruba covers several school districts, charter schools and private universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | lcaruba@express-news.net | Twitter: @LaurenCaruba