By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph voters will decide a $20 million school bond issue April 2nd.
Melanie Barnes, the co-chair Friends of the St. Joseph School District, points out the money will pay for a variety of improvements within the district, including upgrades to facilities and academic programs at no additional cost to taxpayers.
“So there is a no-tax increase related to this,” Barnes tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “So, I don’t understand how we’re not in a win-win situation and how anyone can really not be for this.”
Barnes says the way the St. Joseph School District has handled debt should encourage taxpayers to have faith in the current administration, headed by Superintendent Gabe Edgar. The current administration has worked to pay off debt, allowing the district to seek the bond issue without seeking a higher levy.
“Our current levy, our current 53 cent tax, is going to pay off this additional $20 million that we are proposing to taxpayers,” Barnes says. “Why does it have to go to the ballot if it’s not affecting their taxes? It’s because anytime the school district takes out debt, the taxpayers have to be aware and vote on it.”
The St. Joseph School District has paid off enough debt to issue an additional $80 million in bonds without triggering a tax increase.
The money generated by the bond issue would pay for public safety upgrades, academic programs, and activities.
Public safety includes work in partnership with the city to build roads at Carden Park and Oak Grove Elementary Schools as well as extending the district sidewalk program, which plans sidewalks for Pickett and Pershing Elementary this summer and possibly Spring Garden Middle School if the issue passes.
HVAC upgrades would be funded. Edison and Eugene Field Elementary Schools had to cancel classes when the rest of the district returned from a winter storm, because their heat pump heating systems couldn’t keep up during the bitter cold stretch. The district-wide intercom system, to be used especially during any time of crisis, would be upgraded.
Artificial turf would be added to the high school football fields, making them more versatile. Money would be invested in the performing arts.
Barnes says the bonds will pay for much needed repairs to some of the district’s oldest buildings.
“Can you imagine if your house is 85-years-old, because, from what I understand, that’s the newest high school is 85 years old. I think it’s Benton,” Barnes say. “Can you imagine if your house is 85-years-old and you have not put any infrastructure upgrades in it in over 85 years? So, no new windows, no HVAC, nothing. Don’t you think you’re going to need to put some investment into that house?”
It will take a four-sevenths vote to approve the bond issue.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.