It's a common question: "Why does the district bond for everyday maintenance? They should save up and put that money in their budget so that I don't have to use my tax dollars!" We've even heard some people say that we shouldn't be bonding for things like sink repairs. Here's an easy answer: we don't.
Everyday repairs and maintenance projects are paid from the district's annual budget. In fact, we have nearly $23 million for maintenance in this year's General Fund budget alone. Remember, the district has nearly 100 schools and other facilities to maintain, and school buildings endure a lot more wear and tear than your average building. This $23 million goes to cover things like painting, repairing roof leaks, replacing broken glass, fixing locks, plowing snow, repairing fences, and maintaining plumbing, heating, electrical and roofing systems.
But roofs and heating systems can only be repaired so many times. At some point, the cost of repairs becomes so large that it makes more sense to replace these items. This is where bonding comes in.
The district bonds for major projects, like new roofs, that are intended to extend the life of a building and delay the need to renovate or rebuild. These bond projects are eligible for 60-70 percent reimbursement from the state. That means local taxpayers are only paying for 30-40 percent of the project. If the district paid for these projects from its annual budget, the projects wouldn't qualify for debt reimbursement and taxpayers would have to pay for the entire amount. So taxpayers actually pay less when the district bonds for these projects.
Right now, the state will not provide reimbursement for projects that are paid by anything except voter-approved bonds. We know that people are frustrated by this process, so the district and the school board are talking with the state legislature to see if we can change this. We hope that, in the near future, they'll be willing to chip in for projects that are paid from the district's regular budget. In fact, we've already started a Capital Projects Fund—a savings account of sorts—that we hope will be able to pay for future projects.
Until then, bonding remains the most cost-effective method for local taxpayers and the district to cover these critical projects.
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