Published: May 09, 2008 10:28 pm         

A Q&A on the Mineral County school bond call

Vote on projects part of Tuesday Primary Election

Editor’s note: This article was submitted by Mineral County Superintendent of Schools Skip Hackworth.

This article details the specifics of the upcoming bond election and provides responses to questions posed by Mineral County residents.

Q: Will passing this bond raise taxes? How much?

A: Yes. As specified in state code, this is the only way a Board of Education can actually borrow money. This money cannot be levied without approval of the voters.

On a $75,000 house, the daily tax will be approximately 17 cents, or an annual assessment of $62.28. A senior citizen with a homestead exemption on the same property would pay less than 9 cents per day, or approximately $34 per year. These figures are based on bonds being sold at the market rate of 4.35 percent. If the bonds are sold at a lesser rate, the costs to taxpayers would be less. The bond is advertised for 15 years but it is anticipated that the bond would be paid off in approximately 13 years.

Q: Has the board already hired architects, engineers, financial planners and bond counsel?

A: Yes, the Board of Education has contracted the services of all four entities listed. However, payment to them would be contingent upon passage of a bond. They are not paid unless the bond passes.

Q: Who will make decisions on building design?

A: Committees comprised of teachers and service personnel from the respective schools will design the buildings. However, final decisions on building design must be approved by the Board of Education and all regulatory agencies.

Q: Will the current football field at the site of the Keyser Primary School still be used? Will the baseball fields at the Wiley Ford Primary School still be there?

A: The answer to both questions is yes. Plans were carefully developed to maintain these facilities for our students and the communities.

Q: Will we be getting any money from the School Building Authority?

A: The Board of Education has already been allocated $9 million from the School Building Authority. Receipt of this money is contingent upon passage of the bond. If the bond does not pass, the money allocated to Mineral County will be redistributed to other counties.

Q: How much control does the SBA hold in determining building characteristics?

A: The School Building Authority does not control the specific characteristics of a building. Building plans must be approved by all regulatory agencies and then by the School Building Authority to assure compliance with all applicable fire, health and safety regulations. They would only have approval over the two projects that will utilize SBA funds — the new Keyser Primary School and the addition being proposed to the Wiley Ford Primary School.

Q: When will the new schools open? When will the renovations be completed?

A: It is hoped that initial planning for the schools could begin as early as this summer. We already have site drawings and the basic plans developed for each project that has been identified in the bond call. We would then hope to break ground for a couple of the projects this fall. It is hoped that all projects would be completed by the 2010-2011 school year.