Schools pack April ballots with bond and tax requests
EDITOR'S NOTE: The story has corrected information about Southern Boone School District's two ballot issues.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Schools around Mid-Missouri are packing ballots with requests for more money, whether it be bond issues or a request to increase property taxes.
In the Southern Boone School District, they're doing it differently to keep taxes flat.
The district is asking its voters on April 2 for $11.6 million to build new classrooms and fix buildings. The district's debt service tax would remain at the same level under this bond issue but administrators are asking to raise its operating tax.
However, Southern Boone plans to then reduce the debt tax, according to one of the ballot issues. A "yes" vote to both would lead to no tax increases for district taxpayers.
One ballot measure would approve the bond issue. The other would increase the district's operating levy from $3.9846 per $100 of value to $4.1846, an increase of 20 cents per $100 of assessed value, and reduce the debt levy by the same amount, keeping taxes the same.
New Franklin
Howard County's New Franklin School District, which spills into Boone County, is asking voters to approve a $2 million bond issue for maintenance and upgrades. Debt service taxes would remain at the current level.
North Callaway
Like Southern Boone, North Callaway has a big ask for voters -- approval of an increased tax rate and a bond issue.
The district wants to increase its operating tax rate from $3.7761 per $100 of valuation to $4.0261, a jump of 25 cents per $100 of valuation. The increase would add about $95 to the tax bill for someone owning a $200,000 home.
North Callaway will also ask for $17 million in bond proceeds to build a new elementary school. The debt service rate would neither go up nor down if the measure is approved.
Blair Oaks
Cole County's Blair Oaks School District is also asking voters to approve bond funding worth $9.25 million for construction and repairs.
The district, like others, is also asking voters to pay more in taxes to operate. Blair Oaks is asking voters to increase the property tax by 30 cents per $100 valuation to $3.35. The change would mean an extra $114 in taxes per year for a $200,000 home.
The main reason the district cites for raising property taxes is to help hire and retain qualified staff.
Cole County R-V (Eugene)
The Cole County R-V School district, which neighbors Blair Oaks, is also asking its voters to approve a bond issue and an increase in property taxes.
The Eugene bond issue is worth $2 million and would pay for a new secure high school entrance, renovate the elementary school playground and make facilities ADA compliant, among other items.
The district wants voters to increase their taxes by 68 cents per $100 of valuation. The levy would change to $4.1088 if approved. If approved the tax bill for a $200,000 home would increase by about $260 per year.
Mexico
The district wants to borrow $21 million through bond sales for construction and districtwide renovations.
The bond issue would keep the debt service levy at its current level if approved by voters.
Montgomery County R-II
The Montgomery County R-II School District is yet another that is asking voters to approve a bond issue for pricey projects.
The district wants $8 million to replace the high school's HVAC system, remodel the family and consumer science classroom, replace windows and make other repairs and upgrades. The bonds would leave the district's debt service tax at the same level.
New Bloomfield
New Bloomfield voters are being asked to approve a $5 million bond issue.
District leaders say they want to add to the agriculture building and improve the track along with other districtwide renovations and repairs. The district's debt service tax will not change if the issue is approved.
Wellsville-Middletown
Wellsville-Middletown is asking for $2.7 million for improvements and repairs across the district.
New siding and a roof for the elementary and removal of asbestos from the high school are some of what the money will go toward. The district's debt tax would stay the same if the measure passes.
Smithton
Cooper County's Smithton School District wants $3.5 million this April.
Part of the money would be spent on district-wide security and safety improvements, fixes to the elementary school pickup and drop-off area and renovating and moving the preschool.
The district now enjoys no debt service tax. That would rise to 49 cents per $100 of valuation, which would cost the owner of a $200,000 home about $185 per year.
Tipton
Administrators at Tipton are asking voters to say OK to a $1 increase in the ceiling of it operating tax levy.
The operating levy pays for a district's day-to-day operations. If approved, the district would increase its property tax by up to $1 per $100 of assessed value. The overall ceiling would be $3.93 per $100.
Boonville
Leaders at Boonville Public Schools are asking for one of the area's bigger bond issues at $10 million.
The district plans to use the money for upgrades and repairs to numerous buildings and grounds. Approval would leave the debt service levy the same at $1.0699 per $100 of assessed value.
Otterville
The Otterville School District is asking its taxpayers to help secure $1.7 million in bond financing to renovate and repair existing buildings.
A "yes" vote would mean the debt service tax in the district remains unchanged.
Keytesville
In Keytesville, school leaders are hoping they can get approval of $2.75 million in bond funding.
The Keytesville School District would, if it gets the money, would update HVAC systems, update the vo-ag building and repair the elementary school foundation, among other repairs and upgrades.
The district's debt service tax would increase from the current, which is no tax, to 50 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. That would mean about $190 per year for the owner of a $200,000 home.
Northeast Randolph
The leadership at Northeast Randolph R-IV wants $2.2 million in bond funding for improvements across the district.
Those improvements include new exterior doors, renovated bathrooms and repaved parking lots and driveways. Approval would not increase the district's 87-cents-per-$100 of value debt tax.
Osage County R-II
The district is seeking $9.5 million.
The money would pay for security and safety updates; a new building that will allow middle school students to leave the Fieldhouse basement; a cooling system at the Fieldhouse and other improvements, the ballot measure says.
The district debt service tax will say unchanged at $1.05 per $100 of assessed value.
Gasconade County R-I (Hermann)
Hermann schools want $5 million in bond funds for projects including a new agriculture shop.
The district's debt tax will remain unchanged at 90.3 cents per $100 of assessed value if the issue passes.
Gasconade County R-II (Owensville)
The Owensville-centered rural district is hoping voters will grant it the power to borrow $16.5 million for a variety of construction and renovation projects.
Those projects include safety and security updates campuswide, sports facilities updates and construction of a school annex to make more space for vocational, agricultural and arts programs.
The debt tax will remain at 67 cents per $100 of assessed value if the bond issue passes.
St. Elizabeth
The St. Elizabeth School District wants to raise taxes.
The district is asking voters to authorize it to increase the operating tax levy -- which pays for the day-to-day running of the district -- by 99 cents per $100 of assessed value. Such an increase would mean an extra $380 or so each year for a $200,000 home.
The district is hoping to add revenue to its budget to tap into FEMA cost-share funds to build a new gym and storm shelter, along with other projects. The ballot question asks for a 20-year authorization.
Maries County R-I (Vienna)
Vienna schools want $2 million in bond funding.
The money's main purpose would be safety and security improvements, according to the ballot language. Upgraded HVAC systems would also be funded with the money.
The debt service tax would stay the same if the measure passes.
Montgomery County R-II
The Montgomery County R-II School District in Montgomery City wants to borrow $8 million in bonds.
The money would go to a variety of building projects including HVAC systems, new windows for the middle school and remodeling the family and consumer science classroom.
The debt service tax would say at 70 cents per $100 of assessed value if the bond issue passes.
