The majority of USD 251 North Lyon County Board of Education members are on board with asking voters to approve two bond measures for new facilities.
Not everybody feels the same way.
Board members voted 5-2 to ask residents to approve a nearly $26 million bond for a new high school near North Lyon County Elementary/Junior High School in Americus. They then voted 5-2 to ask voters to approve a separate but related $5.2 million bond for a new athletics complex in the 600 block of Road 245 just northeast of the town.
In both cases, Angie Brotz and Gary Heine voted no. Brotz says the bond costs are too high. She has not responded to a KVOE News email seeking comment.
Heine, meanwhile, has questioned the legality of the bonds now tentatively set to go before voters in the Nov 3 general election. Citing Kansas Statute 72-5457, Heine says a district’s total bond amount has to be capped at 14 percent of said district’s assessed valuations. With a total valuation of around $104.3 million, Heine says the cap should be around $14.6 million. Combining the bond requests as approved Wednesday night would mean a bond total of over $31 million.
The law does give school districts an out — authority to modify the limit — and Superintendent Bob Blair tells KVOE News plans to take that step were mentioned to the board last month. Blair also says the district has been working with Piper Sandler to submit an application for that purpose to the Kansas State Board of Education later this summer. A meeting with representatives of both the State Board of Education and the State Department of Education is expected before the state board decides on the application.
While not directly addressing the concerns mentioned by Brotz and Heine on Wednesday night, Blair says the district and its external partners have done what they can to give patrons the best bang for the buck possible.
Blair also says the vote on new facilities reflects a lengthy period — over 3 years — of conversations on the district’s current and future facility needs.
If approved, this will adjust the mill levy. Annual property taxes on a $100,000 home will go up over $45, or less than $7 a month. Commercial businesses valued at $100,000 will see their annual property tax go up $100 to $525. Annual property taxes for 160 acres of dry crop land will go up almost $45, with property taxes for 160 acres of grassland going up over $26 per year. Blair says this would move the USD 251 levy to comparable level with some nearby school districts.
With the bond finalized and the election date ahead, Blair says there will be some additional times for the district to meet with patrons.
In separate but related matters, board members approved a land acquisition in the 600 block of Road 245 for the athletics complex. The vote is a contingency if the bond propositions are approved.
11:45 pm Wednesday:
November’s election ballot has a new item for some Lyon County residents.
Voters in USD 251 North Lyon County will vote on two bond measures designed to bring a new high school and athletics complex to the district after both were approved by 5-2 votes Wednesday. Proposition 1 asks residents for their blessing to spend almost $26 million for a new high school near North Lyon County Elementary/Junior High in Americus. Proposition 2, meanwhile, asks for voter approval for a $5.2 million bond for the athletics complex.
The decision to move forward reflects over 3 years of conversations and meetings about the need for — and potential configuration of — new facilities for North Lyon County. Superintendent Bob Blair:
The district tried 3 different times to pass bond issues for new facilities last decade, and all 3 efforts failed. At the time, there were concerns about costs, overall need and a potential split of the district — specifically between east and west, depending on what could have been approved. The potential district schism was not mentioned as a concern Wednesday night, but board member Angie Brotz voted against both propositions, saying the bond costs were too high. Blair declined to comment specifically on the comments from Wednesday, but he says the district and its external partners have done what they can to give patrons the best bang for the buck possible.
If approved, this will adjust the mill levy. Annual property taxes on a $100,000 home will go up over $45, or less than $7 a month. Commercial businesses valued at $100,000 will see their annual property tax go up $100 to $525. Annual property taxes for 160 acres of dry crop land will go up almost $45, with property taxes for 160 acres of grassland going up over $26 per year. Blair says this would move the USD 251 levy to comparable level with some nearby school districts.
With the bond finalized and the election date ahead, Blair says there will be some additional times for the district to meet with patrons.
In separate but related matters, board members approved a land acquisition in the 600 block of Road 245 for the athletics complex. The vote is a contingency if the bond propositions are approved.
As conversations continue towards the votes on new facilities, decisions are also ahead on what to do with Northern Heights if both votes pass. Blair says conversations have not taken place on what to do with the current high school property or what the new facility name may be.
Click here for the district’s Strategic Plan Committee information page
Click here for Simpson Construction Services’ concept designs for all district options as presented last month
Click here for the Kansas Office of the Revisor’s information page on KSA 72-5457
