School Board Approves Levy, Bond Measures

WAITSBURG – After many months spent deliberating, seeking estimates, and soliciting community input, the Waitsburg School board approved resolutions to place both a replacement M&O levy and a school facilities upgrade bond on the February 2016 special election ballot.

The proposed replacement M&O levy would collect $559,000 in 2017 and $570,000 in 2018. The estimated dollar rate of the levy is $3.55 per $1,000 of assessed value in both years. The exact tax levy rate may be adjusted based on the actual assessed value of taxable property within the district at the time of the levy.

“At the current tax rates, there would be no change to the taxpayers,” said Superintendent Dr. Carol Clarke.

Clarke said the funds will be used for maintenance operations but she is also investigating, at the request of the board, the cost of an ECEAP preschool program.

If the levy is approved, the district will qualify for levy equalization funds – state funds provided to areas with lower property assessments – unless the legislature discontinues that program. Currently, the state matches at 28 cents per $1.

“If it doesn’t pass, we don’t get those funds,” said Board Chair Ross Hamann.

The proposed upgrade and improvements bond of $4.8 million would replace the 1999 $1.62 million capital improvements bond, used for renovations of the high school, which will soon be retired.

Taxpayer cost is estimated to be between $2.12 and $2.14 per $1,000 over the next 20 years, and the bond would need a supermajority to pass, Clarke said.

“We need to be careful how we say this. In essence, we are raising taxes because we are expiring bonds that we’ve worked hard to pay off and we’re going back to ask for more. But it’s not any more than they (taxpayers) are paying now,” Hamann said.

The proposition authorizes the district to improve the learning environment and school safety through the installation of air conditioning in the elementary, middle and high schools; a complete renovation of the district kitchen; construction of a field house with restrooms, storage and concession areas; improving high school parking and the addition of lighting and walkways; and construction of an all-weather track and amenities.

Board members considered removing one or more of the projects, for fear they would be unable to complete them all, but ultimately unanimously approved the resolution as written.

“We’ve had experts tell us we can do it. There is a tremendous amount in there that they allow for prevailing wage and soft costs and they even allow for the fact that it will be a year later before we start soliciting bids. We’ve always been very responsible,” Hamann said.

“There’s no way we can really know until the bids come in a year from now,” said board member Christy House.