Schools

Voters Approve Bond Issue

Preliminary Results Are 419 In Favor and 92 Against

June 09, 2009

Voters in the Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools school district appear to have approved a $6.7 million dollar bond issue for improvements and additions to the Ashland-Greenwood school buildings during a special election held Tuesday. Early voting results report 419 votes in favor of issuing the bonds and 92 votes against the issue. The results according to the Saunders County Clerk’s office are preliminary and final results will take a few days as provisional ballots are reviewed and a final canvas is conducted.

The plan includes 10 new classrooms and the remodeling of existing spaces to create 3 additional classrooms. Also in the project are new cafeterias for both the middle/high school building and the elementary building. Both buildings will also get enlarged kitchen and serving areas. Site improvements include new parking and driveway areas at the middle school and the elementary school.

Another portion of the plan will be the enlargement of the high school commons facilities and additional spaces for teachers work areas and conferencing at the middle/high school building.
A light turnout was reported at the four polling places that had been established for this special election. Voters in the cities of Ashland and Greenwood voted at their normal locations. Voters in rural Saunders and Sarpy Counties voted at the Ashland-Greenwood High School. Voters in rural Cass County voted at the Greenwood Community Building.

Based on estimates provided by the construction manager and the fiscal agent the annual tax cost for the project will not increase the current levy for buildings and bonds. The estimated interest rate for the bonds over 20 years is expected to be in the 3% to 5.25% range. The annual payment on bonds in the first year is expected to be about $602,952.50. Currently the school district budget of expenses for the bond fund and tax asking for the building fund is $615,000 so the annual cost to taxpayers may be less if the bond is adopted. Recent increases in assessed values in the area will likely mean a decrease in the building and bond levies next year.