Masterplan committee advises school board to seek rollover bond

The school board will likely seek a bond in this year's election, with an emphasis on upgrading all schools in the district, after a recommendation by the masterplan committee Tuesday.

However, rather than seek a bond for a specified amount of money, Mike Mitchell, who was hired to oversee the process, encouraged trustees to seek a bond for a specified amount of time.

Called a rollover bond, it allows voters to approve a certain tax rate for 10 years.

"That way you don't have to keep going back to the voters," Mitchell explained. "You can plan better for long-term goals."

A tax rate was not identified during Tuesday's meeting. The current tax rate is 47 cents per $100 of assessed property value, which means if voters approve a bond at that rate, property taxes would not increase.

Under the tentative plan presented, the initial phase of funding would go to upgrades at schools throughout the district, including upgrades to lighting and mechanical systems to improve efficiency.

Mitchell, who retired as the district's operations director last year, said the upgrades could save schools about $250,000 annually.

Another focus of the proposed bond would replace portable classrooms at Empire Elementary with a more energy-efficient addition to the school.

Mitchell said that in the past few years most Nevada school districts have passed rollover bonds.

He said it makes sense because Carson City has passed bonds in 2000, 2002, 2008 and probably in 2010.

He said the first phase of the money would be dedicated to bricks-and-mortar type projects. The next would be dedicated to improving programs, like career and technical education. A final phase could be used for technology upgrades.

A final draft will be presented for the board's approval on

March 23.