Mail-in Vote to Decide 2014 Bond Issue

After more than a year of site studies, planning and community meetings, Salina USD 305 Board of Education approved a resolution yesterday to place a $110.7 million bond issue on the April 8, 2014 mail-in ballot.

305 Superintendent Bill Hall tells KSAL News that pushing the issue into the future could end up costing the citizens of Salina more money, “Right now the state of Kansas will pay twenty seven-percent of the cost of this bond issue in the form of state aid,” he said.

Hall added that each year the legislature bats around the idea of doing away with the aid package, “At this point in time the state of Kansas will pay almost a third of the cost of this,” he said.

“If we wait a year or two it may fall upon our local taxpayers to pay the whole thing.”

The mail-in election would address district needs including safety and security, all-day kindergarten, career and technical education and improvements at both high schools.

Prior to the election, a ballot will be sent to all registered voters who live within the school district boundaries. March 7th is the deadline to register and receive a ballot by mail.

Total Potential Bond Cost Overview:
· Total elementary project costs: $25,841,160
· Total middle school project costs: $ 8,148,000
· Total high school project costs: $75,672,115
· Total Other Attendance Centers Project Costs: $ 1,041,000
Total Potential Bond Cost: $ 110,702,275