School district gets $20 million bond approval

By Marcus Clem

More than 6 in 10 voters approved Proposition St. Joseph School District on Tuesday night, clearing the way for upgrading various facilities with support from private investors, who will be paid back via an existing tax levy.

With the margin of voters in favor required to exceed 57.143%, at total of 7,018 “yes” votes were cast against 3,627 “no” votes, producing a margin of 65.93% in favor. In consultation with L.J. Hart & Company of St. Louis, Missouri, Superintendent Gabe Edgar will now encourage the funding of a $20 million bond that the district will service with its existing 53-cent debt service levy. The total local school tax will remain $4.32 for every $100 in assessed value of personal property that exists within school district boundaries. A breakdown on how this affects individual taxpayers can be found here.

Aside from investing money in fine arts and science facilities for students, the bond will upgrade school grounds by installing artificial turf at various school fields, including the football venues of Central, Benton and Lafayette high schools. Running tracks will be renovated and expanded so as to be able to host all relevant levels of competition. Miscellaneous school upgrades include a districtwide intercom system and upgrades to heating ventilation and air conditioning. Sidewalks will be fixed at various school locations.

In the long term, Superintendent Gabe Edgar will be able to continue to pursue implementation of his long-range plan, as the district will retain more than $80 million in borrowing authority in the years to come. Voters will have to approve any new issuance of debt. The top-line projects in store are two new high schools, each of which will cost at least $120 million. Had Proposition St. Joseph School District been defeated, borrowing authority would possibly have been reduced by half this fall.