General Obligation Bond Election To be Held
November 4, 2008
Launch the media gallery 1 playerSt. Francis Community Schools Board of Education has voted to send a general obligation bond to public vote on November 4, 2008. The bond is to fund the proposed new gymasium/commons lobby that has been designed by Glen Strait and Associates.
The new addition would be built on the south side of the existing high school gymnasium.
The following facts are given to help community members make an informed decision regarding the issue:
A public information forum was held on October 16, 2008 in the high school auditorium to allow community members to gain information regarding the proposal and to allow questions to be asked/answered. A large crowd was in attendance.
Features of the Proposed Addition
Click here to view the floor plan for the building addition
Seating for 1200 people--the current gymnasium is generously rated at a capacity of 800
Indoor walking track for public use
Adequate restroom, concession, and eating areas for all events
Commons area for public usage
Collegiate sized basketball court--ten feet longer than the existing high school court. (The court at the grade school is 11 feet short of regulation size.)
Two practice courts--(courts running across the main court) when bleachers are stacked away
Referee locker room with showers
Central entrance to both gyms--allowing easy access to restrooms, concessions, and both gymnasiums
Ability to secure the remainder of the building during events held in the gymnasium area
The proposed addition will have an additional floor area of 25,848 square feet
Estimated Cost to Taxpayers
If you home is valued at $75,000, the bond will cost 15 cents per day.
Click here to view residential property costs of the bond issue
A $75,000 commercial property will cost 32 cents per day.
Click here to view commercial property costs of the bond issue
Dry crop land (median use value = $90/acre) will cost 17 cents per acre annually.
Irrigated land (median use value = $150/acre) will cost 28 cents per acre annually.
Grass land (median use value = $16/acre) will cost 3 cents per acre annually.
Click here to view agricultural property costs of the bond issue
The following link is a calculator that will determine the exact impact of the mill levy on your taxable property. Open the calculator and fill in the correct information in the yellow box(es) as necessary. Please note: The calculator requires Microsoft Excel to open. Compatible software to open the document can also be found at www.openoffice.org (Windows) and www.neooffice.org (Mac).
Click here for the 297 Mill Levy Impact Calculator
Other Facts
The proposal is a $2.5 million project with repayment period of 15 years.
In 2007-2008, USD 297 has the 4th lowest mill levy of the 26 KASB Region 9 schools (all of northwest Kansas) of which we belong.
Click here to view school finance data for Region 9 schools
The existing elementary gym is approximately 80 years old.
