Richland II hears $60M facilities needs, $16.7M IT plan and a $30M bond proposal with no millage increase

At the June 24 work session, Chief of Operations Will Anderson presented the district’s annual capital-improvement update, describing roughly $60 million in facility needs and about $16.7 million in IT needs identified through building assessments.

Anderson said the district prioritized needs into critical, important and desirable categories and reduced the immediate request to an approximate $11.5 million facilities package for the coming year while identifying other projects for grant or future funding. He told trustees the list included HVAC replacements, two roofs, continued renovations at the Spears Creek facility, several activity buses and assorted smaller repairs.

On IT, administration proposed a roughly $16.7 million plan largely driven by a recurring computer‑refresh cycle (a five‑year rotation for Windows devices and a four‑year rotation for Chromebooks). Tommy Carter, present for IT questions, said Windows devices average about eight years of age in the district and a five‑year rotation would improve user experience.

Senior chief financial officer Nancy Williams and the district’s financial advisor, Mike Gallagher, presented an overview of a proposed general obligation bond of $30 million to cover the operations and technology asks. Gallagher emphasized the plan "will not result in a millage increase" and said the proposal is structured over four years. Administration said the board will consider a formal resolution at a future meeting.

Trustees asked follow‑up questions about device counts and rotation targets for transparency to the public and taxpayers. No bond vote was taken; administration will return the bond resolution for board action at a subsequent meeting.