Blair Oaks R-II holds hearing on proposed tax increases for new school

The Blair Oaks R-II School District held its second and final public hearing Tuesday to present plans for a potential new high school, pending increases on multiple tax rates based on property value.

The number of students in the district has doubled in the past 15 years, according to Superintendent Dr. James Jones.

“Were going to have to do some things different if people want to keep the level of education we have at this point.”

The district hopes to raise two rates by a total of 60 cents per $100 of assess property value to build up the funding for the school.

The board of education is considering raising the debt service tax levy by 30 cents, without voter approval, at their August 14 meeting. If the board decides against it, the question will appear on the April 2019 ballot.

“It would kinda be going a different path. That’s one of the possibilities we want to discuss with our community,” Jones said.

Either way, voters will be asked to increase another rate, the operating tax levy, by 30 cents in April.

The presentation, accessible on the district’s website , includes the history of tax the district’s tax rate, potential layouts of the new building, and two avenues for moving forward on the project.

Blueprints put forward by the district outline the layout of a 95,785 square-foot building. The land, which sits straight across Falcon Lane from the Blair Oaks Middle School, was bought by the district in December 2011.

If both rate increases are supported by April 2019, the new school could open as soon as August 2021.

If the first is approved by April 2019, the new high school could open as soon August 2021.