The proposed project is the second phase of a facility master plan presented to the school board by the community-based facility advisory committee in 2022. The first phase – the softball and baseball complex and renovations to the high school science classrooms – cost $6 million. It was paid for using sales tax dollars collected by the state and passed through to school districts. This is often called the penny tax.

This second phase of the project will cost $12.3 million. It will be paid for using a general obligation bond, which is repaid using a debt levy that is just one part of the overall property tax levy the school district uses to pay for a variety of operating expenses. The debt levy can only be used to pay down debt. It can not be used to pay teachers salaries or buy equipment, for example.

THE FINAL PROJECT BUDGET FUNDED BY THE BOND CANNOT EXCEED $12.3 MILLION.

How is the project budget allocated?

Below is how the overall project budget of $12.3 million is approximately split between academic, athletic, and site
projects. It’s important to remember that these are just estimates at this point. Exact figures depend on ongoing
architectural and engineering design and contractor bids, which will all happen after the November 3 election. Once designs are finalized and again when bids are received, we will continue to update the community.

Keep in mind the above numbers are all estimates developed by architecture and engineering firms based on past similar projects for other school districts in Iowa. These numbers are project cost estimates, which include labor, materials, fees, etc …

After November 3, the design will be refined and the costs could evolve.  Once the design is finalized, the construction will be publicly bid. If bids are lower than the estimates, the project costs are revised down. If bids are higher, adjustments can made to reduce costs or the district can reject the bids and redesign.

THE FINAL PROJECT BUDGET FUNDED BY THE BOND CANNOT EXCEED $12.3 MILLION.

Why is the district rebuilding instead of renovating the stadium?

Everything at the current stadium is past the end of life/use. This means, instead of renovating in the current location, the district would be rebuilding in place. Regardless of location, costs include new home bleachers, visitor bleachers, press box, track, and lighting.
Rebuilding in place is more expensive because if stadium were to stay in the current location, the existing concessions/restroom would need a complete replacement. A new concession/restroom is more than double the cost of adding onto the new restroom/concession building that was constructed as part of Phase 1, with the long-term intent to expand when the stadium was relocated.