The referendum was also tied to other regional amenities like park improvements and a remodeled regional library.
Officials say they're now looking for ways to fund the library and parks.
That means there will be no Central Minnesota events center in the foreseeable future. A legislative mandate opened a window this year for Saint Cloud to pass the tax to be eligible for state funding to build the events center. Schumacher says he's pleased the measure was defeated. The people have won a victory, because they have restored their faith in their right to vote and their belief that it's paramount in our democracy for representative government and they came out in numbers, 50-some percent came out and voted and I think that's something that should be applauded. The ballot was defeated by only 360 votes.