Voters within the USD 500 school district boundaries will decide on a $180 million school bond measure in the Nov. 5 election, marking the second time this year residents will vote on funding for school improvements.
Different from the May march measure, this bond measure will fund major construction projects without increasing property taxes, according to district officials.
If the bond measure passes, planned projects would include:
- Replacing Central Middle School.
- Replacing Argentine Middle School.
- Replacing Silver City and Noble Prentis elementary schools with one new school.
- Adding classrooms to Sumner Academy of Arts and Science.
The largest portion of the funding would go toward the middle school projects, with construction of the new Central and Argentine estimated at $132.7 million. The new elementary schools estimated to cost $38 million, while the Sumner Academy expansion is budgeted at $7 million.
The current proposal focuses on addressing the district’s most urgent infrastructure needs. Some students at the affected schools currently attend classes in temporary outdoor trailers, and the aging buildings face ongoing maintenance challenges. The middle school buildings slated for replacement are an average 102 years old.
This ballot measure represents a significantly scaled-back version of the $420 million bond proposal voters rejected in May. Only 8% of registered voters participated in the previous bond election, with 58% voting against the measure.
The previous $420 million bond measure included all the projects in this $180 million proposal plus:
- A $15M new aquatic center.
- A $60M new public library.
- Replacing Emerson & Stanley Elementary Schools with one new school.
- Replacing Lindberg & Eugene Ware Elementary Schools with one new school.
- New additions to M. E. Pearson & Whittier Elementary Schools to replace mobile units.
- Gym additions to J. C. Harmon & F. L. Schlagle.
- $44M in deferred maintenance.
- $29.3M in athletic facility improvements.
- $12M for auditorium improvements.
The previous bond measure would have raised property taxes, which was a sticking point for many of the individuals who voted against it. The scaled-back $180 million bond measure on the ballot this November ensures that property tax bills will not be raised.
To maintain current tax rates while funding these projects, the school board plans to offset bond-related taxes by reducing the property tax mill levy on the district’s capital outlay (money used for improvements and maintenance) and library funds.
While property tax bills would remain steady, the library budget would be reduced by $2 million annually. The school bond will be paid off with mostly local taxes, but Kansas state taxes will contribute approximately 31% toward the bond repayment.
District officials note that construction costs continue to rise, with projected expenses for the Central and Argentine rebuilds already increasing 7% since initial planning.
If approved, the bond would represent the largest capital investment in KCKPS facilities since 2016, when voters approved a $235 million bond to build several new schools without raising property taxes.
