Waterloo board backs $165 million SAVE-bond plan to build one high school after tense public hearing

The Waterloo Community School District board voted 5–2 on July 29 to approve a resolution supporting the proposed issuance of approximately $165 million in school infrastructure sales-tax revenue bonds to convert the Central Middle School building into a single consolidated high school.

The vote followed a statutorily required public hearing that drew more than an hour of testimony from residents who alternately urged the board to proceed and urged caution. The resolution states the district will use SAVE (Secure and Advanced Vision for Education) sales-tax revenue — a 1% local sales-tax allocation set by state law for school capital projects — and that eligible electors may file a petition to demand an election; the deadline to submit a petition is close of business Aug. 12, 2024.

Why it matters: Board supporters said a single high school will give students greater access to career-technical programming, reduce duplicated courses and staff costs, and address troubling ninth-grade credit and dropout figures the district presented. Opponents argued the $165 million figure understates total taxpayer costs (curb cuts, a roundabout, site work and other infrastructure), questioned whether the public was adequately informed in earlier elections, and worried about traffic, neighborhood impacts and affordability amid local layoffs.

Resident voices and concerns

Several residents spoke during the public-comment period. “If not now, when?” said Scott, a Waterloo resident who backed the consolidation and the chosen site, arguing the district could complete the plan without raising property taxes. Forest Jillo, another longtime resident, said the bond “is strictly a down payment” and warned of additional city and site costs that could fall on taxpayers.

Other commenters raised specific questions: whether the SAVE revenue can be used to build new facilities or only to improve existing ones; whether air-conditioning projects at East and West Highs are funded separately; how many acres the district purchased and whether any of that land is in a floodplain; and who will ultimately buy the bonds and what the district’s annual debt-service obligation will be.

District responses and outreach

District staff and administrators said the proposal grew from task-force work that began years earlier and said the district held multiple town halls and work sessions in the months leading up to the hearing. Jared (an administrator leading community engagement) summarized outreach: “We did hold six town-hall meetings and multiple work sessions that covered safety, academics, transportation and budget — we’ve tried to be transparent and to take community questions.”

Jeff, the district’s chief financial officer, explained mechanics: SAVE revenue currently provides roughly $12–13 million annually to the district; bond series may be sold over multiple years and the successful bidder at a public sale purchases the bonds. Administrators emphasized the district’s position that the plan does not raise property-tax rates beyond existing levies because it relies on already-assessed SAVE revenue; they also said SAVE funds may not be used for operating expenditures such as teacher pay.

Board rationale and data

Board supporters framed the plan as a response to persistent operational and educational challenges. One board member presented district data tying low ninth-grade credit attainment and attendance to higher dropout rates and argued consolidated facilities with robust career-technical programming would improve graduation outcomes and make course access more equitable. The board said the remodel/expansion will incorporate the recently remodeled Central building as the core of the new high school and that full design renderings are available on request.

The vote and next steps

The board’s resolution supports issuing up to approximately $165 million in school infrastructure sales-tax revenue bonds, to be issued in one or more series under Iowa Code chapter 423F. Under Iowa law and the district’s revenue-purpose statement, electors of the district may file a petition (requiring at least 100 signatures or 30% of the number voting at the last school-board election, whichever is greater) to demand an election on the proposed issuance. The board noted that if a valid petition is filed by the Aug. 12, 2024 deadline the board must consider withdrawing the proposal or submitting the question to voters.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution supporting proposed issuance of approximately $165 million in school infrastructure sales-tax revenue bonds: approved, 5–2. The resolution text and petition instructions were read into the record; the board will only proceed to sell bonds after completing statutory steps and as market/series timing dictates.

What to watch next

Residents who oppose the plan can try to force an election by filing a petition with the board secretary by the Aug. 12, 2024 deadline. If a valid petition is filed, the board will either withdraw the proposal or place the question on the ballot. Administrators said they would provide additional cost details, project renderings and timing information as design work continues.

Reporting note: quotes and attributions come from remarks recorded in the district’s July 29 public hearing and subsequent board discussion. The district cited Iowa Code section 423F and the district’s SAVE revenue purpose statement during its presentation.