BENTONVILLE -- The School District will request a 1.9-mill tax increase next spring that would raise enough money to build four more schools and accomplish a variety of improvement projects.
Residents would pay an additional $38 per year for every $100,000 in home value if voters approve the request. The election will be some time in May, though a specific date hasn't been set.
2017-18 Calendar
The Bentonville School Board on Monday approved a calendar for the 2017-18 school year. The calendar closely resembles this year’s calendar. The 2017-18 school year will start Aug. 14 and end May 25, barring snow days. Winter break will run from Dec. 21 to Jan. 3. The calendar also includes a three-day fall break for students from Oct. 16-18, a break the School District implemented this year.
Source: Staff report
The School Board on Monday unanimously approved moving forward with the millage request as recommended by district administrators, even though it differed a bit from the 1.7-mill recommendation they presented just a week earlier.
Janet Schwanhausser, finance director, said the district had to adjust its bond payment schedule in order to have the money available to open new schools in accordance with the 10-year facility plan.
Without the change in the payment schedule, the district would not have obtained the money it needs in time to pay for the schools on its facility plan, Schwanhausser said.
The millage request, if approved, would pay for a 12th elementary school that would open in 2019, a fourth junior high school in 2020, and a 13th elementary and sixth middle school, both of which would open in 2022. The cost of land for this construction is included in the millage.
The additional millage also would pay for some roofing projects, heating and air conditioning system upgrades, a warehouse and a facility for the district's Ignite program. Not included is a stadium at West High School, something board members have discussed in recent meetings.
Refinancing of 2010 and 2013 series bonds would be used along with the additional millage to pay for those projects.
Schwanhausser said it's difficult to make accurate long-term financial forecasts for the district because of the volatility of five key variables: assessed value, enrollment, pay increases, building costs and interest rates.
"A swing in any one of those five variables can have a significant impact on those financials," she said. "All five of those variables will be different from what we projected. If I can guarantee anything, that's what I can guarantee."
If those variables swing enough in the district's favor, the millage could provide enough to pay for two more buildings on the district's wish list: a 14th elementary school and a third high school.
Superintendent Debbie Jones said the campaign for the millage increase won't start until at least January. That's when confirmation of new property assessments will become available, making the district's financial future at least somewhat clearer.
Board president Travis Riggs said he likes the 1.9-mill proposal.
"No, it's not getting us six buildings, but it might if we're lucky," Riggs said.
Brent Leas, a board member, said he's been contacted by constituents regarding the tax issue.
"It's going to be very important for us to be in unison on this and be on spot with our communication," Leas said.
The district's millage rate of 46.6 would increase to 48.5 if the district's proposal passes. Its current rate is already one of the highest in the state and the highest in Benton County.
As Monday's meeting started, Leas asked to amend the agenda to allow time for the board to say a prayer he had written. The prayer was about the 10-year facility plan and proposed millage campaign. He distributed a copy of it to board members.
"I just believe that as we're moving forward with consideration of the timeline and asking the electorate for approval of a millage campaign, I think it's important to ask for God's wisdom on that," Leas said.
Riggs and board member Matt Burgess expressed concern about it.
"I'm a little concerned about people in the audience and how they may feel about this being done," Riggs said.
Jones said while she respects Leas' religion, she advised the board to wait for a legal opinion before proceeding with the prayer. Moments later, Jones informed the board the district's attorney, Marshall Ney, had texted his opinion they not do it.
Board members settled instead on having a moment of silence, which they did when the millage topic came up.
NW News on 11/15/2016