SPRINGDALE — Voters want all school construction to be as cost-effective as possible, according to the Springdale Chamber of Commerce.
Voters also recognize the need for more classrooms to prevent overcrowding, said Chris Weiser, chamber chairman.
The chamber commissioned a survey to determine the willingness of voters to support a tax increase for new schools. Some information about the poll’s results was released this week.
More schools are needed to accommodate a growing student population, according to district officials. Springdale’s fall enrollment was 18,800 students, compared to 18,188 last year.
J.O. Kelly Middle School holds some classes in common areas because of limited space.
The School Board plans to hold a millage election this year to build a middle school and junior high school. No election date has been set.
Voters rejected a September 2010 request to build the two schools, an athletic complex at Har-Ber and update the Springale High School stadium. It required a 2.4-mill increase.
The survey indicated some residents didn’t approve of including athletic projects, Weiser said. The chamber plans to support a millage request without athletic facilities, he said.
At A Glance
Value Of A Mill
The value of real property as determined by the county assessor’s office is the appraised value. The assessed value is 20 percent of appraised. Taxes are figured on the assessed value. Property taxes are levied as mill. A mill is one-tenth of a cent or one-thousandth of a dollar. The Springdale School District’s current tax rate is 38.6 mills.
Source: Staff Report
Many respondents also did not believe it was a good time to raise taxes because of the economy, said Perry Webb, chamber president.
“We realize we have to come forward this time with classrooms only,” Superintendent Jim Rollins said.
Building the schools will cost about $54 million. The Arkansas Department of Education will provide about $16 million toward that amount through a state partnership program. The state extended the deadline to provide the money to the school district until the districts next election.
A condition of the extension was the district could not ask for athletic improvements, said Danny Dotson, board president.
The survey found many voters do want Springdale to get the partnership money, Weiser said.
The poll surveyed Springdale residents who voted in the September 2010 school election, Webb said. He declined to release the questions or name the company that conducted the poll.
Dotson and Rollins said Friday they had not seen survey details.
School elections are held in September unless the board decides to ask for a special election. The state requires 60 days notice.
Rollins has suggested May or September would be the best months, but he hasn’t decided on a final recommendation.