School board to vote on wording of $25 million bond proposal tonight

The school board will vote tonight on wording for a $25 million bond planned to move on to voters for approval in the upcoming election.

The bond has been proposed - after work by a master plan committee composed of business, school and community members - to cover the cost of building an addition at Carson Middle School and to replace boilers at Carson High School and about two-thirds of the high school's roof.

"The question is shall the Carson City School District be allowed to sell general obligation bonds in the amount of $25 million for improvement to the Carson City School District," said Mike Mitchell, director of operations for the school district. "That's the gist of it."

If approved, taxpayers would not see an increase in their property taxes because the recent tax cap limits that amount to 3 percent annually. If the bond is turned down, the school district will see less tax money in upcoming years, money that will simply go to other governmental agencies as a result.

Of the $25 million in the proposed bond, nearly half - $12 million - is planned to replace 25,000 square feet of portable buildings with a brick building at Carson Middle School. About $7 million is planned for replacing or repairing air-conditioning units throughout the district, including $1 million for installation of two energy-efficient boilers at Carson High.

Some $4 million would be put toward roof repair at Carson High, Eagle Valley Middle school and Empire and Seeliger elementary schools. And $2 million would go toward improving drainage at the high school's track field, as well as putting in handicap-accessible bleachers.

"The wording (of the bond resolution) does not tie you down to specific projects," Mitchell said. "It says the $25 million will be used for improving facilities, purchasing, remodeling, all those kinds of words. It doesn't say (specifically) it will be used for replacing boilers at the high school. It doesn't get into the detail. That's done on purpose so it gives us some flexibility in case one project costs more than another and we have to change our priorities."

In the fall, most likely after the 2006-07 school year begins, the district will offer tours to the public to see areas in need of improvement. If the bond language is approved by board members at tonight's meeting, it will be forwarded to the recorder's office for inclusion on the November ballot.

"The board has (already) said yes, we want to place a question before the voters for a $25 million bond," he said.

That vote was taken earlier in April, sending the bond resolution to the city's debt management committee for approval.

• Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.

If you go

What: Carson City School Board meeting

When: 7 p.m. tonight

Where: Sierra Room of the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.

Information: 283-2100