Residents urge caution on tax impacts as committee evaluates bond

Two residents used the meeting’s public-comment portion to press the committee on affordability and intent as the steering group reviewed bond options.

Heather Hall introduced herself and said her son graduated last spring; she asked the panel, "Do we need to pass this bond?" and said she was concerned about higher property taxes making it harder for young people to remain in the district. Bob Benny told the meeting he believed bond projects often benefit contractors and consultants more than student safety, arguing that security solutions could be implemented with technology and that "they don't need $40,000,000 to make this school safe."

Presenters responded by walking through project lists, funding sources and the district's fiscal position. They reiterated that different bond sizes reflect different scopes of work, and they presented a modeling example for a $30 million bond financed over 20 years that the consultants said "would require a 9¢ bond levy" under the assumptions used. The presenters also noted the district has deployed special building fund and depreciation dollars for many capital items since the unsuccessful 2017 bond attempt, and they described an informational plan (website, mailer, town halls) to explain scope and tax impacts to registered voters if a bond is called.

The meeting produced no formal decision; attendees were asked to participate in small-group surveys, and the steering-committee feedback will go to a board workshop next Wednesday at 06:00 where the board may decide whether to call a bond and, if so, take the filing steps required for the chosen election date.