Shelley School District seeking a $7.5 million bond

SHELLEY – The Shelley School Board has approved a 7.5 million dollar bond levy to replace the school’s 10-year-old plant levy. This levy will be used to repair and upgrade schools. It will also raise individual homeowner’s property taxes. 

On Thursday, January 21, the school board decided to seek a $7.5 million bond levy. This bond replaces a 10-year-old plant levy, which is expiring. Typically, most school districts maintain ongoing plant levies to fund repair and upkeep projects on their schools. 

The district is asking for a bond instead of creating a new plant levy because, through the State’s bond equalization program, 28 percent of the bond funds will be paid by the state. According to the School District, this program will save the taxpayer $2,164,323 compared to a plant levy.

The bond levy will increase the property tax of home and landowners in the district. Net change in taxes per $100,000 = $59.11 per year, $4.93 per month. For example, a person owning a $200,000 home would likely see their taxes raised from $538 to $656 per year.  

The bond election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 9, 2021, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the standard polling places. The bond requires a 66.67 percent majority vote to pass.

The following is a list of items the bond will cover:

• Annual maintenance & operations

• Update Hobbs HVAC and security

• Prepare Goodsell to be a kindergarten and special services center

• Hobbs roof repairs

• SHS and Hobbs fire systems replacement

• Update camera systems and electronic doors

• Replace and repair sidewalks to meet ADA compliance

• Replace SHS PA emergency system

• Create controlled front door traffic at SHS and Stuart

• Replace carpet flooring with polished cement where applicable

• Repair/refinish Stuart asphalt and playground area

• Update/repair Stuart gym floor

• Upgrade Goodsell playground to become ADA compliant

• Replace roof at Sunrise

• Upgrade sprinkler system at SHS and Sunrise

• Construct a dry storage building

• New school bus purchases

More information about the bond is available on the Shelley School District’s website.