Park Hill board places two tax measures on April 8 ballot to boost pay and fix aging schools

The Park Hill Board of Education on Jan. 23 voted to place two tax measures on the April 8 ballot that together would raise property taxes if voters approve them: Proposition G, a proposed 10¢ increase per $100 of assessed valuation to fund staff recruitment and retention, and Proposition O, a bond authorization to fund roughly $128 million in capital work on aging buildings.

Superintendent Doctor Kimball and finance lead Doctor Kelly presented the measures and explained how they fit into the district’s Park Hill 2034 facilities plan. Doctor Kelly said Proposition G targets competitive salaries, including improving beginning pay and overall compensation metrics; the presentation described an operating-levy increase of 10¢ per $100 of assessed valuation to pay for that objective. On Proposition O, consultants from Hollis & Miller presented conceptual master plans for Park Hill High School and other campuses and said the bond program would be repaid through a debt-service levy increase estimated in the presentation at about 30¢ per…