Next JISD bond election meeting on Oct. 14




 

 

Jourdanton ISD parents, students and community members are invited to attend an upcoming meeting, regarding the Jourdanton ISD proposed bond election. The meeting is set for Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Jourdanton High School Cafeteria.

There was a small turnout at the first meeting on Sept. 28, in which details were presented on the many projects included in the proposed $46 million school bond. These were listed in the Sept. 30 issue of the Pleasanton Express.

Among some of the areas JISD Superintendent Lana Collavo spoke on:

“The baseball field and softball field both need updating and how nice it would be if they were located in the same area. The football stadium and stands are in desperate need of replacement,” said Collavo.

Junior high students go to the high school cafeteria to eat lunch because the junior high cafeteria is not large enough. The elementary students must eat in the small junior high cafeteria as there is no cafeteria on the elementary campus, explained Collavo.

The agriculture classrooms need updating with improvements for safety and equipment.

“We are working to keep high school students on the high school campus, junior high students on the junior high campus and not have them change campuses for class.”

“We have made improvements to the elementary parking lots but some areas still remained unpaved.”

Other plans include improving the courtyard, building an early childhood campus and adding more room for high school band members.

“Even with the new band hall, they are still in need of space, as the band program is a very large and expansive one.”

Dr. Collavo shared photos of the current Ag Barn, the small field house, asbestos in some of the tile that will need to be abated, flooding from storms in May, as well as pictures of junior high students who walk to the high school to eat lunch every day.

Bond planning site maps were handed out to the audience. Collavo also explained how traffic would be re-directed, as explained in the Sept. 30 issue.

Representatives with PBK Architects and Government Capital Corporation were also in attendance.

“As far as the opportunity to be able to go and do a bond, the bonding capacity that you have based on your value, you are way up. Interest rates are still very low, so I think the timing of trying to do a bond as a school district in general is very good,” said John Blackburn of Government Capital Corporation.

He also shared how that over the years, the best way for a school district to pursue facilities has changed.

“The Maintenance and Operation (M&O) rate has changed with the time. Traditionally in the past school districts have been able to pursue facility projects out of excess M&O budget money.”

He showed charts explaining that in 2005-06, the M&O rate went from $1.50 to 1.37 and then to $1.17. This is called the compression of rates, part of the Robin Hood formulation of the equalization of wealth. Now, any excess M&O money goes back to the state of Texas, so they redistribute that to property poor districts in the ways they see fit.

Charts were also presented showing that the majority of the county’s wealth comes from minerals and agriculture. So for example, oil, natural gas and leases from gas companies that are non-local entities that are still paying property taxes would all be in this category.

“The breakdown of value inside the district translates directly to your debt service. So if the bond goes through, when the district collects that new 36 cent I&S (Interest & Sinking) tax to pay for debt service, the same breakdown of value applies to those collections. So business/industrial entities will pay about 80 percent of the tax money collected and the remaining 20 percent will come from residential/agricultural properties,” said Blackburn.

Collavo shared how it will affect taxes. The price of the average home in Jourdanton is slightly over $68,000. On a home valued at $100,000, the tax increase comes out to approximately $362 per year.

Those age 65 and older may be eligible for the Homestead Exemption, but you have to request this exemption through the Atascosa County Appraisal District.

“JISD is a Chapter 41 school, this means there is recapture on our maintenance and operation (M&O) funds. It is not a large percentage, but we do have recapture on our M&O. Any money raised on our Interest and Sinking (Bonded Indebtedness) is not subject to recapture, thus all I&S remains in the district,” said Collavo.

A question and answer session followed, ended by Collavo and Jourdanton ISD School Board President Barbara Peeler encouraging everyone to vote, regardless of their position.

Early voting is Oct. 19- 30 at the Atascosa County Annex II in Jourdanton. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

•EARLY VOTING: OCT. 19- OCT. 30 AT THE ATASCOSA COUNTY ANNEX II HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. On Tuesday, Oct. 20 and Tuesday, Oct. 27, hours will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. • No weekends•

ELECTION DAY: NOV. 3 IN YOUR PRECINCT

The JISD proposed bond includes the following projects:

•Instructional/Campus Facilities, including Career and Technology Education- Ag, Family & Consumer Science, Business and IT: Early Childhood Campus with playground and elementary cafeteria, Ag Barn, Career and Technology Education Building and Art Room- High School and High School Band Room for 60 students. The estimated total in the Instructional/Campus Facilities category is $17,919,000.

•Sports Facilities Construction and Renovations: Field House and gym dressing rooms renovations, Baseball/Softball Complex with concessions, restrooms and parking, Tennis Courts at Sports Complex and renovation of existing one, High School Gym Renovation- additional seating (visitor’s side) and Football Stadium Renovation- stands, concessions, restrooms, track, turf and entry. In the Sports Facilities category, the estimated total cost is $15,013,133.

•Grounds and Services: Bus Yard- bus parking, office, bay, fueling station; Elementary School parking, Junior High School Parking, High School Parking and Outdoor Eating Area and Districtwide Safety Features, paving, sidewalks, canopy, demolishing of current facilities. The Grounds and Services total is estimated at $4,451,475.

This brings the estimated construction cost to $37,383,608. Contingency cost is $2,896,042, with a soft cost of $5,689,801, for a total estimated bond cost of $45,969,451.


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