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Linn‑Mar outlines 10‑year capital plan; board approves Excelsior roof contract
Summary
The district presented a draft 10‑year capital plan for SAVE/PPEL/PERL funds and discussed an indoor activities project; the board approved awarding the Excelsior Middle School roof replacement to the lowest responsible bidder.
The Linn‑Mar Community School District finance and audit committee presented a draft 10‑year capital plan that models potential revenues and expenses for the district’s three voter-approved capital funding sources: SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education sales tax), PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy) and PERL (Public Education and Recreation Levy). John Galbreath, chief financial officer, said the documents are a conservative starting point that assume modest growth in sales tax receipts and property valuations and will be updated annually.
Key assumptions and highlights included conservative annual sales‑tax growth (1.5 percent) for SAVE, 3 percent annual growth in property valuations in PPEL planning, and an annual $150,000 baseline for playground improvements under PERL. The draft includes an illustrative $16 million placeholder for other capital needs and shows how funding an indoor activity center would affect cash flow across SAVE and PPEL. Galbreath emphasized that some projects would be cash‑funded and others would be financed; he also explained that borrowing against SAVE incurs interest and bond payments, which are already shown as debt service lines in the draft projections.
Board members and committee members discussed prioritization processes, involving operations staff, building principals and a facilities advisory group, and noted the importance of ensuring that less visible maintenance items — flooring, tuck‑pointing, accessible entrances and other repairs — are included in year‑to‑year decisions. The administration said principals, PTOs and building staff have provided project wish lists; the plan’s annual maintenance categories include roofing, HVAC, interior repair, furniture replacement, safety/security and transportation equipment.
On a related, actionable item, the board approved awarding the Excelsior Middle School roof replacement project to the lowest responsible bidder. The motion (mover: Melissa; second: Manhattan as recorded) passed; the board noted that bids returned below the original budget and that the chosen bid upgrades the membrane to a thicker 90‑mil product that carries a longer warranty. The motion language and the transcript provide the bidder name (Dry Space Incorporated) and the total amount as presented to the board; the transcript's dollar figure was unclear on audio, so the contract amount is recorded here as "not specified" pending the official contract document.
What’s next
District staff said they will continue to refine the 10‑year plan and update the board annually, and that decisions on large projects such as the indoor activity center will be presented with financing options (cash vs. bonded debt) and associated interest‑cost comparisons. Projects funded through PPEL and PERL are shown through the lifetimes of current voter‑approved levies (PPEL through 2035 and SAVE through 2050 per presented assumptions); PERL was noted as continuing under current law unless the legislature changes statute.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve Dry Space Incorporated as the lowest responsible bidder for the Excelsior Middle School roof improvement project — mover: Melissa; second: Manhattan; outcome: approved; contract amount: not specified in the transcript.
