Voters to decide $12.9 million Central Lee bond issue Tuesday

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BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

DONNELLSON - Voters will go the polls tomorrow to decide the fate of a $12.9 million bond referendum that will fund several large scale upgrades on the Central Lee School District campus southeast of Donnellson.

If approved, the bond would provide the district with funds to incorporate a new office at the main entrance of Central Lee High School that would improve security and allow staff to better monitor visitors entering and exiting the building.

This would add to measures already taken to enhance safety through the addition of secured front doors and a school resource officer. The district and Lee County Sheriff's Department have an agreement that puts a deputy on school grounds during school days.

Superintendent Andy Crozier said he would like to see that agreement continue even if the bond is passed Tuesday.

The funds would also be used for new classrooms for band and vocal programs, along with new preschool classrooms that would free up two additional classrooms to meet space needs at the elementary level. There would also be a new competition and performance gym for elementary, middle, and high school events and ADA-accessible locker rooms. Additional plans call for an expanded commons area for better student collaboration and improved building flow.

The board has presented a bond question that would not increase local property taxes. If passed, the tax rate in the Central Lee Community School District would be $12.19 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

The school district is using some of its sales tax revenues to offset a portion of the bond. Coupling that with the increased county valuations, the district was able to create a bond package that would not increase the current $12.19 per $1,000 equalized valuation on district tax payers' bills.

"I think the biggest thing is that people are using those 'now or never' words. I don't know if that's appropriate, but with the large valuation increase, taxes will go down with a no vote," Crozier said.

Crozier said if the district has to put up a referendum for a third time if this fails that he's not sure they'll be able to do it without a property tax rate increase.

The district held several community meetings and many VOTE YES committee meetings to help educate the district voters on the issues.

Crozier said the district also hired a communications firm to help with getting bond information to district residents.

"I think that was more thorough than last time and I feel people are very well-informed. Our strategy was better than last time," Crozier said.

"We gotta move forward one way or another. It's always nice to see this come to a conclusion and have some kind of final result. Either way, security will be an important factor for us as will the other aspects we want to improve with the master facility plan. But if this fails, we will go back to the drawing board and see how we go about getting these important goals met for the school district."

In 2018, Central Lee voters failed to pass a similar bond referendum with only 56.4% voting in favor of a $9.8 million bond. That figure represented a 64.6% approval in early absentee voting. State law requires a 60%+1 mandate in local school bond referendums.

The district was looking to expand the high school building, add common areas, improve entry ways in both district buildings to improve security, create a new childhood center, and improve parking conditions.

Voting Tuesday will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Central Lee High School.


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