Bond cost estimates increase $15 million
The school board will discuss Thursday the latest cost estimates of a proposed bond referendum. District officials have revised the previous $440 million amount to factor in six additional months of inflation if the election is held in May. New amount: $454.8 million.
Should the school board cut out some projects to keep the amount at $440 million? Or is $15 million the price to pay to potentially get stronger voter turnout for the bond in May?
Comments (4)
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I am on the fence about he bond. Adding an additional amount might push me over the edge to vote against it. It looks like the school board are playing spiteful games to me. It wont work. They have to stop this.
Posted on September 12, 2007 8:35 PM
The commissioners have to approve the proposed bond referendum first. I don't think it will matter to the voters if it is $440, 500, or 550 mil. Projects that were voted on in the last bond ref need to be given priority over others.
People either plan to vote for school bonds or not. The success of the school bonds depends largely on two significant issues:
1. The school board and superintendent need to quit catoring to certain interest groups when awarding the construction contracts. They need to address the obvious conflicts of interest that currently exist on the school board, specifically with minority contracts connected to certain significant other; quit WASTING construction money; hired competent and thorough construction managers; quit wasting money on pet, unproven projects; quit wasting funds on unnecessary bussing.
People are watching closely to see what finally happens with Smith Academy and other delayed and costly projects.
2. Rules need to be enforced in our schools for all students. Discipline and order need to be restored. "Safety first" needs to be the mantra in our public schools so teachers can do their jobs effectively, i.e. EDUCATE young minds to their fullest potential and not babysit students that have no desire to learn. Gangbangers MUST be removed from our public schools to an alternative setting.
If the school board and superintendent can prove they are working diligently on 1 and 2 above, the bond ref might have a chance.
Posted on September 13, 2007 8:11 AM
The Board membership that pre-dates the 2006 election is unfit to manage any amount of bond funds. That fact has not changed.
Until there is a change in 4 or 5 more seats I see no reason to vote for any bonds. As a matter of fact I wouldn't have this vote until the voters and taxpayers know who will be managing the funds.
Posted on September 13, 2007 8:16 AM
Bonding Glue and Buckmtn just said everything that needs to be said about this matter. The school board can add as many millions to the bond as they choose, and it really doesn't matter, if the taxpayers can't get past the issues that they listed. Of course, once we get past the elections next year, and all of the county commissioners are safely in place for a few years, they can always approve COP's for the schools, thus, bypassing the taxpayers and voters. Isn't this the way government always works in this county?
Posted on September 13, 2007 10:05 AM