Carson Chamber urges yes vote on school bond

The importance of educating our children in a healthy and safe environment cannot be overstated. A vote in favor of the 2010 School Bond, local Question 1 on your ballot, will assure our schools will be kept in good repair for the convenience of our students.

The citizens of our community have supported three previous school bond requests and our kids have been the better for it. Carson Middle School is now united under one roof and out of portable classrooms thanks to the passing of the last bond. The operating expenses of the school have been greatly reduced thanks to natural lighting and "green" upgrades.

Please be assured voting in favor of the school bond is not to be considered a new tax. For property owners, a vote in either direction will not reduce your tax liability. This is a tax-neutral bond, meaning simply that your yes vote will be for dedicated funds, assuring the bond monies will go for building and repairs within the school district. A no vote will direct the monies to the city's general fund for which there is no current plan. It seems to make sense to put the money into our schools for our current and future generations.

The Phase I bonding of $25 million has been carefully planned by the citizen's school bond committee and includes such important projects as a $7.6 upgrade to Empire Elementary School. The portable classrooms will be eliminated and all children will be united under the same roof. Eagle Valley Middle School is slated to receive a $5.8 million facelift including a new gym and PE facility along with a new cafeteria. All schools are slated to receive needed energy retrofits including the replacement of the aging HVAC equipment that is very expensive to operate and will reduce future utility costs. The monies also will bring the schools to ADA compliance along with a host of additional necessary repairs.

It is important to know the bond monies will be used only for needed capital improvement and will not be used for any operational expenses including personnel.

It makes sense to the Chamber to support a bond that will modernize our schools and provide a good learning environment for those who will soon become our workforce.

Our schools, too, are an important component of decision making when new residents or businesses look to relocate.

Let's keep our schools in top-notch condition. Vote yes! Our kids are depending on you for their quality learning environment.

• Scott Dockery is chairman of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce.