Board backs resolution to pursue up to $30 million in SAVE bonds for Roosevelt Middle School addition

At its May 11 meeting the Dubuque Community School District Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a resolution supporting the proposed issuance of approximately $30 million in school infrastructure SAVE (sales, services and use tax) revenue bonds to support a Roosevelt Middle School addition and related improvements.

Finance staff explained the board is seeking approval to issue bonds "up to $30 million" to ensure the district can cover construction and bond issuance contingencies. "We are just getting started on the design phase ... we estimate the project would cost around 25 million," Ms. Demmer said, adding that issuance costs and price escalation prompted the request for authority up to $30 million.

Superintendent Hawkins explained the context: a previous bond referendum that would have consolidated three middle schools into two did not pass, and district leaders are now exploring adding capacity at Roosevelt so it can serve a larger portion of the middle‑school population. "When we went out for our bond referendum, we were looking at how we can make efficiencies in our middle schools," Hawkins said, outlining the district's shift from consolidation to targeted facility investments.

Board members asked how the district preserves future bonding capacity and whether recent state property‑tax reform will affect SAVE dollars. Presenters said the district still has bonding capacity beyond the $52 million figure discussed during the referendum planning and that the tax‑reform law will "take some funds from future" SAVE capacity; financial advisers are still calculating the net effect. After brief discussion the board approved the resolution by roll‑call vote.

The vote authorizes pursuit of the financing; staff said design and community engagement steps will continue before any bond sale or construction contract is executed.