PROPOSAL

Projects funded through a bond referendum must be part of a district’s Long-Range Facilities Plan. That plan helps identify future facilities repairs and upgrades and strategize how to budget for them years in advance. In 2018, we also looked to the future by initiating a strategic planning process that included Community Engagement Sessions designed to channel our community’s opinions into our goals. Those sessions drew close to 400 people at three evening meetings, and led to a survey that collected more than 1,000 responses. We considered all the needs on our Long-Range Facilities Plan, in addition to the ideas presented at our Community Engagement Sessions and recognized that LRHSD was approaching the pay-off point of debt from a previous referendum. Together, these three elements pointed us toward the fiscally responsible opportunity of enhancing our high schools through a November 2, 2021 bond referendum at a zero change in taxes. The capital projects in our bond referendum proposal are in support of our specific and well-thought-out plans to ensure LRHSD’s future.

Many of the needs we have identified cannot be solved without a significant financial investment and, in some cases, waiting invites risk. While LRHSD’s facilities are well-maintained, many systems – such as water heaters, electrical components, and plumbing – are old and inefficient. It is increasingly difficult to purchase replacement parts when they break, causing our maintenance team to spend an inordinate amount of time on repairs. Our annual budget will continue to be burdened by the inefficiencies that come from maintaining old systems, window air conditioners, and outdated lighting. Our voter-approved bond referendum puts LRHSD in a position to address its large-scale needs and become more cost-efficient -- all with a zero tax increase. We have debt falling off, and we have access to state aid to help us cover about one-third of our project costs. In addition, bond rates are relatively low while the economy is in recovery mode.

The district’s Long-Range Facilities Plan and the decision to pursue a bond referendum are part of LRHSD’s well-thought-out strategy to funding our schools’ needs in the most efficient way possible. We don’t want to ask for more than we need at this time, and we know we will have future opportunities to pay off debt and reinvest the corresponding tax rates. This strategy helps us reduce the impact to our community and continue our commitment to fiscal responsibility while addressing some of our most immediate needs.