Voters in Grant County will be heading to the polls for a special election August 29. The question before them will ultimately decide whether they are in favor of a raise in property taxes or a city wide sales tax.
But what exactly is a school bond?
According to information from USD214, "A bond is a state-approved funding process for a set scope of projects. When voters approve a bond, the school district sells bonds in the authorized amount and uses the proceeds of the sale to pay for those projects in the bond. In many ways, the bonding process is like a homeowner obtaining a mortgage and making payments over a period of years. School bond elections require a simple majority to pass (50 percent plus one)."
The amount the school district is requesting consideration of is $44,750,000. This amount is no small figure, however, school officials have a plan to put the money to use. It is a plan that has been in the works for "several years".
"Over the past several years, the USD 214 Board of Education and Facility Steering Committee have determined extensive facility needs across our district and worked with an architect and construction manager to develop a proposed solution," school officials stated on their Website.
A study was done approximately 10 years ago.
"USD 214 completed a facility study that identified extensive functional needs in all four of our school buildings, as well as essential updates to accommodate modern technology and learning," officials explained. "Since then, the USD 214 Board of Education has diligently worked to maintain facilities and fund small expansions/renovations on a modest annual capital outlay budget. However, the needs of our school buildings continue to grow.
"Additionally," they continued, "our district’s enrollment has leveled after a period of decline. We are currently maintaining more square footage than we need, which is costly. Through focusing on fewer buildings, we can be more efficient in both improvements and maintenance."
Last Fall, Board of Education and the Facility Steering Committee members began working with GMCN Architects and McCownGordon Construction to evaluate current buildings and analyze how well these buildings meet the needs of the students and faculty.
Officials say through this process, they identified challenges including:
Safety and security deficits
Aged and inefficient mechanical systems
Leaking roofs
ADA and building code compliance issues
Outdated and inefficient kitchens
Lack of electrical infrastructure for modern technology
Problematic classroom configurations
School officials believe now is the time to do something.
"There’s never a good time to ask for money to fund capital improvements," they said. "The process for this school bond project began several years ago but was put on hold due to COVID-19. With construction costs continuing to escalate and our buildings continuing to age, the Board of Education and facility steering committee believe it’s time to act. The more we delay, the more the cost increases for taxpayers in the future, and the longer students lack the facilities they deserve.
When Voters go to the polls in August for this special election, they will be asked to consider two questions and vote on whether or not they are in favor of one or both of them. Those questions are:
Question 1 - Shall we approve a school bond issue in the amount of $44.75 million?
Question 2 - Shall we approve a 1 percent city sales tax in Ulysses to help fund this effort?
Voters may question why a sales tax question is part of the bond proposal.
According to school officials, if a sales tax is attached to this bond proposal it will reduce the burden placed on property owners and more.
"The one-percent sales tax proposal would not only significantly reduce the term of the bond, it reduces the burden of the bond on property owners by allowing the cost to be shared with others who come into our community and spend money," according to information from USD214. "In real terms, on a $100,000 home the average monthly tax increase would be $11.50 with the 1 percent sales tax and $16.29 without the 1 percent sales tax, equaling a savings of around $5 per month.
Voters do not have to vote in favor of both questions.
"The school bond can pass with or without the sales tax question passing," officials say.
Not everyone will see two questions on their ballots.
"There are two questions (on the ballot) because there are two government entities involved: city and school," USD214 officials explained. "However, only voters who live within Ulysses city limits will see two questions - one about approving general obligation bonds for $44.75 million dollars and a second question approving a 1 percent sales tax to assist with paying off the general obligation bond. Those who live outside Ulysses city limits, but still reside within the USD 214 school district, will only vote for the school bond issue."
A big question on the mind of taxpayers is most likely "how will this bond affect my taxes?"
That answer involves what is called a mill levy.
"A mill levy is the 'tax rate' that is applied to the assessed value of a property," school officials explained. "One mill is one dollar per $1,000 dollars of assessed value. Our current mill levy is 39.85. If the bond issue passes with the 1 percent sales tax, the mill levy will be 51.98 (or 56.98 with no added sales tax). For a $100,000 home, this increase equals $11.50 per month ($16.29 without the sales tax)."
USD214 currently has no "long-term debt or leases", they said, "which is "unlike most districts.) The last bond issue was paid off in 2014.
So how will the monies be utilized if the bond is passed? School officials say the $44,750,000 would be divided as follows:
Ulysses High School
$33,125,000
Transition to a 7-12 grade facility and expand classroom space by constructing a new middle school wing and a new high school wing.
School officials believe it would be beneficial to change the high school location to accomodate students in grades 7-12, because it would allow the school district to move away from an old middle school facility and focus improvements on three facilities instead of four. They also believe it would address a safety issue students now have.
"In addition to being an aging facility, the current middle school sits on a major highway which students must cross multiple times per day, creating an unsafe environment," officials explained.
Some have voiced concerns about the seventh and eighth grade students moving to the high school, however, school officials says they have plans in place to address that.
"With the renovations there will be a separate middle school wing and high school wing," they explained. "While there will be some shared classrooms, including a shared lunchroom, the middle school and high school will be on a different bell schedule and have separate lunch periods so there would be very little intermingling between the two groups of students."
Plans for the high school also include:
Address ADA and safety/security concerns by remodeling/upgrading the existing high school wing, kitchen, and culinary arts spaces
New science labs and renovated/upgraded shop areas
Construct a new weight room and renovate the existing weight room to serve as the wrestling room
Perform mechanical system upgrades
Hickok Elementary $5,930,000
Address accessibility, safety, and security by remodeling all classroom spaces, the kitchen, and all non-ADA compliant restrooms
Perform mechanical system upgrades and asbestos abatement where needed
New windows and upgrades to the west façade and main entrance
Sullivan Elementary
$4,960,000
Address accessibility, safety, and security by remodeling all classroom spaces, the kitchen, and all non-ADA compliant restrooms
Perform mechanical system upgrades and asbestos abatement where needed
Kepley Middle School
$735,000
Upgrade the auditorium and dressing rooms with new lighting and paint
Total renovation of restrooms outside of auditorium.
School officials say Kepley Middle School auditorium will be "upgraded as part of the bond project and the auditorium and gym will continue to be used by the school district."
"The new equipment in the Kepley Kitchen will be used in the kitchen renovations of the other three buildings," officials explained. "A large part of Kepley Middle School will then be renovated to become the USD 214 District office. The current concept for the Kepley cafeteria is to turn it into a future board meeting/education meeting space."
And, at this time, officials said "all current Kepley Middle School staff would transition to the updated 7-12 building".
With plans to relocate district offices to Kepley - what will happen to the Joyce School Building where they are currently located?
"The USD 214 Board of Education will work with the community to look for other purposes for that building that would benefit the community and surrounding area," officials said.
The election will be Tuesday, August 29, and will be open to all registered voters in the USD 214 district. Early voting will begin August 14, at Grant County Courthouse. On election day, voters can cast their ballot at their typical precinct locations. The last day to register to vote to participate in this election is August 8. For more voting information, visit http://www.grantcoks.org/60/Elections.
For those taxpayers needing more information regarding residential, commercial, and agricultural property, they can visit USD214Facilities.com.
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