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.

Will this affect my taxes?

The I-35 School District Board has been working to reduce property taxes and will continue to look for ways to save tax payers money.

If the proposed bond passes, it is possible for the district to take on new debt while keeping the overall property tax rate at $16.19. There is always a chance, though, based on a variety of unknown future factors like state law changes or overall property valuations, that the overall tax rate could go up.

The most honest answer is: a tax increase is always possible, whether the district passes a bond or not.