St. Martin Parish Schools board considers calling May 3 election for up to $30 million in bonds

Grama Schwood, bond counsel, told the St. Martin Parish Schools Board that the resolution before the board would authorize a May 3 special election to allow voters to approve up to $30,000,000 in additional general obligation bonds "with no projected increase above the current rate of 21.5 mills" to pay the district's outstanding and new bonds.

The resolution, as described by Schwood, would require the board to adopt a capital-improvement plan and designate specific projects using bond proceeds before the election. "The proposition as drafted as with your prior propositions you submitted to the voters, provides that you would adopt a capital improvement plan, designating specific projects that you would use the bond proceeds for and that you would approve that prior to the holding of the election on May 3," Schwood said.

Board members discussed how much detail to provide in the project list. One board member said an itemized project list builds voter confidence, noting a prior bond the board passed in 2016 that, in that member's view, had not been properly itemized. Schwood responded that itemizing projects is not a legal requirement, but that boards commonly provide detailed lists as "a covenant with the voters" and that the board would need to approve the project list before the election under the draft proposition.

Board members suggested priorities to place "near the top" of any project list, including districtwide security upgrades and renovations or equipment updates at career-technical programs. Officials said the board would consult principals across the parish to compile candidate projects and estimated costs for review.

No formal vote on calling the election appears in the transcript excerpts provided. The draft proposition described on the record includes the $30,000,000 cap, the May 3 election date, and the statement that the bonds would not cause a projected increase above the existing 21.5-mill tax rate. The board was informed it would have to approve a specific, itemized capital project list prior to holding the election if the proposition remains as drafted.

The board did not reach a recorded decision on the resolution in the provided transcript segments; further action or formal vote is not specified in the record available here.