On behalf of the Gasconade County R-2 School District, I encourage you to continue to support our kids, school, and community.
As you know, the school is running a no-tax rate increase bond issue. Projects for the issue include updated turf for the football field, new gymnasium bleachers in the OHS main gymnasium, annex to the high school with a career tech expansion, fine arts classroom, and a storm-safe auditorium, OMS Gymnasium renovation with a new floor, bleachers, and moving the HVAC to the rooftop, upgrades to GES to allow for a double entryway and updates to the main hallway, along with safety and security upgrades to all cameras in every building.
The no-tax rate increase bond issue is for 16.5 million dollars. The voter-approved debt-service tax rate will remain unchanged at .67. This will extend the debt to allow for these updates and renovations at our district facilities.
A bond proposal asks voters to approve the sale of bonds for building improvements, construction, and equipment purchases. A no-tax-rate increase is when the percentage of local taxes toward bond debt remains unchanged. Since 2006, the debt service tax rate for Gasconade County R-2 residents has remained at 67 cents for every 100 dollars of assessed value. The district has not asked the voters to raise the tax rate in almost two decades.
I would encourage patrons to review district finances on both the district and DESE’s website. While our district could legally bond an additional 27 million dollars, and our school finance consultant recommended 20 million, our board seriously considered the proposed projects and is asking for 16.5 million dollars.
This ensures that even in the event of an economic downturn or decreasing population, the district will be able to pay back the debt service and remain in good financial health. While it is not allowable to request bids on bond projects before a request for qualifications, the architects and construction manager at-risk were selected last year and agreed to provide the services based on the price per square foot they provided during the 2023-24 school year.
The list of projects and the cost of each major project was outlined in an article from the March 13 edition of this paper.
Districts use the debt service fund for large-scale projects that will be utilized by our community for generations. This is different from the operational fund, which is used to manage day-to-day business and covers employee salaries and benefits, and the capital fund, which is used to cover larger projects that are on a constant cycle (i.e. parking lots, roofs, etc.). 78 percent of our annual budget is put toward our people through salaries and benefits
I encourage you to vote on April 2, 2024, for Proposition: GCR2. Our kids and community are counting on you.
Educationally,
Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy
Superintendent
