Norris committee narrows bond options and lays out March 1 deadline to reach May ballot

Norris School District steering-committee members and outside advisers spent a third public session weighing three bond packages and the district’s informational plan, with officials urging the board to decide whether to call a bond by the March 1 county deadline if it wants the issue on the May 12 primary ballot.

Tobin Buchanan of Northland Securities told the committee that, under new election rules for 2026, the district’s realistic scheduling options were the May primary, a July special (likely mail-in) or the November general, and that a majority board resolution must be signed and delivered to the county election commissioner by March 1 to appear on the May ballot. "If there is a decision to wait till November, that's certainly a possibility," Buchanan said, adding that the May date shortens the informational window but reduces election costs.

Committee presenters and consultants laid out three budget packages. A full-scope option totaling roughly $39,157,000 includes site work, interior renovations, mechanical replacements and roofing across campus buildings. A $30 million package shown to the group was created by removing lower-ranked items from survey results and retains secured entrances, major roof and HVAC replacements and ADA restroom upgrades; the $20 million package narrows focus to essential safety and mechanical projects (high-school secured entrance and administrative renovations, high-school road replacement and HVAC replacement, and elementary HVAC work) and was modeled at about $19,997,000.

Buchanan presented tax-impact modeling for a $30 million bond financed over 20 years with interest included and said that scenario "would require a 9¢ bond levy," which the consultants explained equates to about $90 a year for each $100,000 of taxable valuation in the illustrative model. Presenters stressed modeling assumptions vary by valuation, exemptions and how agricultural land is calculated under LB2 rules.

On outreach, consultants described a district-led informational campaign if a bond is called: a dedicated informational website, social media, town halls and a mailed informational packet to every registered-voter household. Buchanan estimated the mailer cost in the district’s plan at roughly $2,000–$4,000; other outreach could use district channels provided the content remains informational, not advocacy.

Presenters also reviewed past capital work and funding. They noted the failed 2017 bond (two propositions) and listed items completed since then using special-building, depreciation and district QC-type funds, plus a roughly $2,500,000 seven-year lease purchase used to finance new baseball and tennis facilities. Officials said about $8,600,000 in an earlier bond series remains outstanding and is scheduled to retire in 2033.

Next steps: committee feedback from the three public sessions will be compiled and discussed at a board workshop next Wednesday at 06:00, when board members and advisers will consider whether there is appetite to set a dollar amount and, if so, take the steps (including the March 1 filing) required to place a bond question on an upcoming ballot.