Council hears breakdown of school board’s planned $87M referendum and $37M fieldhouse proposal

The council received a report that the local school board will ask voters in a Nov. 4, 2025 special election to approve two referendum questions: an approximately $87 million package (security upgrades, deferred maintenance, athletics and projects at multiple schools) and a separate fieldhouse proposal listed at $37 million plus a $3 million inflation allowance.

According to the briefing, the referenced amounts included: $7 million for security and safety upgrades; $20 million for deferred maintenance; $6.5 million for recreation and athletics; $14 million for Primary School work; and other school‑level allocations aggregating to roughly $87 million in Question 1. Question 2 would fund a fieldhouse at $37 million with an additional $3 million inflation allowance (total up to $40 million). The speaker also said the district expects about a 3% increase in revenues and a 4% rise in spending in 2026, resulting in projected deficit spending of roughly $1.5 million and a fund balance near 20%.

Council members who spoke urged clearer voter education and pledged to seek further breakdowns from the district superintendent and finance director. One council member said the referendum could raise average household taxes by roughly $200–$500 per year over the life of the bond depending on term length and noted businesses could see different impacts.

The information was presented during council committee reports; the speaker did not make a formal policy recommendation on the referendum and council took no formal action.