By Sarah Ladd
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media
Woodford County voters will go to the polls Tuesday, June 26, to cast ballots for or against a proposed tax increase for a new high school.
Advocates of the tax express frustration over the condition
of the 54-year-old school and potentially limited resources for students in the
future, while opponents say the school district’s contingency fund is too large
and should be used to reduce the tax hike or improve the building.
The proposed increase is 5.5 cents per $100 of assessed
property value. For a $200,000 home, it
would be an increase of $110 per year, or $9.17 per month. The revenue would
pay off bonds the district would issue for the $47 million project.
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| High school's sign promotes use of absentee ballots. (Photo by Sarah Ladd) |
Hawkins said one reason for a new campus instead of
renovation is that the building is in a landlocked area that does not allow
expansion. “The cost of a renovation that would update the facility with more
modern spaces is over half the cost of a new high school,” he said, adding that
a renovated building would still have no room for the performing arts. He also
asked, “What would we do with the students during a major renovation?”
Hawkins said a new building would provide modern science and
engineering labs, open spaces for collaboration and an auditorium for
performances. He said the school could
also greatly improve spaces for band, orchestra, choir, career and technical
education and some athletic facilities.
He also mentioned safety as a feature, saying a new school
could be designed with the most up to date safety features. “That is extremely
important given the most recent school shooting incidents,” he said.
Amanda Glass of Midway, a member of I Support our Schools—the
grassroots campaign to pass the tax—and parent of future WCHS students, also
mentioned safety as a concern. She said when the school was first built in
1964, “school violence wasn’t such the concern as it is today.” She pointed out
the capacity increase in the school, which she said held 771 students when it
was built and now has 1,250.
Glass said the school is not on par with 21st century
standards for education. “A new building would offer areas to collaborate,
exciting new programs and opportunities for all students.”
Hawkins agreed, and said timing is key for the project,
because the district’s debt load and current tax base would not allow it to
undertake the project for 12 years. “If the tax does not pass, next year’s
kindergarten class would not see a new high,” he said.
Opponents of the tax also cite the school district’s debt of
$26.745 million, which includes $3.15 million for a new HVAC system at
Northside Elementary School in Midway, a debt that will not be paid off until
2027.
Wayne Raider, owner of a Versailles liquor store, said he
doesn’t feel people have been educated on the details of the proposed tax. “The
only reason they are asking for 5.5 is to get a loan,” he said. “These people
think the 5.5 is paying for school.” The bond issue would be paid off over a
period of 20 to 25 years.
Raider also challenged the size of the school district’s
$5,079,373 contingency fund, 11.6 percent of annual revenues. He said it should
be allocated to rebuilding the school.
Piper Williams White, owner and operator of M.C.’s Parties
and Events in Versailles, said she also wants the contingency fund spent on the
renovations to the school before resorting to a tax hike to issue long-term
bonds. “The debt will be tripled and not paid off until our now-kindergarten
kids have their own children,” she said.
Hawkins said he hears a lot about the size of the fund. “Our
contingency fund, or rainy-day fund, is there in case of emergencies or to deal
with reductions in state funding that can occur during a year,” he said. While
the state only requires districts to keep 2 percent of their money in
contingency, he said, that amount would only cover three weeks of operating
expenses should the district need to access them. He said the 11 percent amount
would cover three months of expenses.
“This strong financial position allows us to deal with state
cuts and the ebbs and flows of state budgets passed by the legislature,”
Hawkins said. He added that if Gov. Matt Bevin’s original budget had passed in
the recent legislative session, only 55 of the state’s 173 school districts
would have been able to remain in operation after two years without spending
cuts or local tax increases. “We were one of those 55 districts and this is
because of our solid financial position,” he said.
Opponents of the tax increase have other complaints. Raider
said his property taxes increased from $1,300 to $2,700 in the last two years.
“They reclassified how much ground to be agriculture, then reassessed my house
last year,” he said.
Glass said she has not experienced a spike in her property
taxes, but acknowledged people’s reluctance to pay more. “As a community I feel
like it is our responsibility to give our children the best education possible,
and that includes facilities,” She said. She pointed out that a similar tax has
been used before to build other schools, including the current middle school.
“Good schools help us all, with children or not,” she said. “It means increased
property value and greater opportunities for economic development.”
Glass also expressed concern about future opportunities for
students if the tax does not pass. “I worry about the children that won’t find
something they are interested in because it isn’t offered due to limited
facilities,” she said. “Also, there will be kids that leave our district for
districts that offer more than we are currently able to.”
Hawkins said the current building has not hindered academic
performance and pointed out that the high school and school district are “very
high performing in the state. We have tremendous teachers and outstanding
students.” He said that the issue is
rather about missed opportunities for the students “that would enhance their
performance and experience.”
Ambrose Wilson IV of Midway, who chairs the school board,
said he is not surprised the tax has been controversial, but feels it will pass
successfully on Tuesday. He said he has spoken with parents in Midway who never
assumed their children would still be in the old high-school building and are
excited at the prospect of a new school. “This is a once in a lifetime
opportunity for people to be part of the process to vote for a new high
school,” he said.
