A $15 million dollar no-tax-increase bond issue meant to assist the Gasconade County R-2 School District with capital improvements failed by 14 votes last April.
However, an Oct. 3 budget …
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A $15 million dollar no-tax-increase bond issue meant to assist the Gasconade County R-2 School District with capital improvements failed by 14 votes last April.
However, an Oct. 3 budget workshop agenda item for the Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education included possibly revisiting the measure in April 2024 as part of it is three-year fiscal outlook plan for the district.
Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy on Monday afternoon commented on the agenda item.
“That is just showing the bonding capacity and how much we are able to bond,” Hardy said. “The affordability of it, if we decide to run it again in April.”
Due to rising inflation, the board was concerned last year that the longer they waited to ask voters for a no-tax-increase bond issue, the more likely it would turn into a tax-increase bond issue.
“We are looking at the cap on that project,” Hardy said. “Brent Blevins will be here from Stifle to explain the bonding capacity and financial affordability of the bond issue.”
While the board hasn’t come to a formal decision regarding its previous request for a bond, Hardy said she thinks they will seek voter approval again on the measure.
“I think they will run it again,” Hardy said. “I am praying it will be a different result. There comes a time that if we prolong this stuff, we will have to pay for it out of our capital improvements or operating funds.”
Hardy said items purchased with bond money are things that are meant to last a long time.
“What a bond is for is to last another 100 years,” she said. “Long after I’m gone, to improve the buildings. If we don’t pass the bond we are going to have to use some of our operating funds to replace and maintain and make updates to the systems we currently have.”
The currently debt service levy is set at 67 cents per every $100 of assessed valuation.
Additional workshop agenda items include discussion about the Long Range Facility Review, curriculum and trends in education such as academic outlook, teacher recruitment and retention, and upcoming legislative sessions.
The board also expects to go into closed session for a personnel discussion.
The budget workshop was scheduled to be held over dinner at White Mule Winery.
