It’s On The Ballot – Measure 18-91

March 22, 2013 By

The upcoming school bond measure for the Klamath County School District is officially on the ballot.  Titled “18-91: Bond for Improvements and New Elementary School“, the bond measure will be on the ballots of residents who live in the boundaries of the Klamath County School District.

Since this is a “District Measure Election”, you won’t find Measure 18-91 in the voter’s pamphlet this spring.  However, you can follow the link above to read a PDF version of the document on the Klamath County Elections Department site.  We’ve also included the text of the Klamath County School District bond measure below:

Caption:

Bond for School Improvements and Construction of New Elementary School

Question:

Shall Klamath County School District be authorized to issue general obligation bonds not exceeding $31,000,000
with citizen oversight? If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property
ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11 b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution .

Summary:

 If approved, this measure would fund capital costs and bond issuance costs. Specifically, bond proceeds would be used to:

• Construct, furnish and equip a new Henley Elementary School, including site improvements and new bus loading area. Relocate
existing modular buildings to other District locations.
• Make health and life safety upgrades including fire alarms. The majority of fire alarms were installed in the 1950’s and 1960’s and
do not communicate with 911 or security monitoring companies for immediate response.
• Make energy saving improvements including new light fixtures, windows, and wall systems.
• Update flooring and ceiling tiles. Abate asbestos materials as required.
• Other improvements, including but not limited to, heating/air conditioning systems and roofs.
• Pay bond issuance costs.
Bonds would mature twenty (20) years or less from issuance and may be issued in one or more series. Estimated yearly property tax rate is $0.53 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual rate may vary depending upon interest rates, assessed value growth, and other factors. Citizen oversight committee would ensure funds are used as intended.

Remember, election day is May 21st and all ballots must be received on that day.  And please, vote YES! on ballot measure 18-91!

And if you have any questions about the Klamath County School bond measure, you can always email us at schoolspac@gmail.com or visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.



 


Filed Under: 18-91, Ballot Measure 
Herald News Covers, Supports Bond Measure!
 

February 11, 2013  By   
The last five days have been “good news” for the Klamath County Schools bond measure.


First, a front page story appeared in the Herald and News with the headline “PAC makes case for $31M school bond“.  The article goes into a discussion Mel Ferguson, Ray Holliday, Dan Keppen and Greg Thede had with the H&N editorial board the previous Monday.  The PAC representatives talked about the challenges the bond measure faces as well as why Klamath County Schools need $31 million to complete the improvements that range from needed heating system and fire alarm upgrades to a new school for Henley Elementary to replace the collection of trailer houses that now serve as the school.


The next item appeared a mere four days later in the Sunday edition in the Focus section titled “School bond issue built with care and no fluff“.  In the opinion piece, the Herald and News editorial board presents arguments for supporting the bond measure because it focuses on upgrading the school district’s facilities while pointing out it’s been over 40 years since a bond measure has been approved for the schools.  They also quoted committee spokesperson Ray Holliday – “No salaries, no books, no athletics, no fluff is in the proposal.”


Yes – this is strictly a program to address the capital improvements our County schools need.  We’re glad to see the Herald and News supports this bond measure.  Our schools need help and the time is now.


If you would like to get involved, visit our “How You Can Help” page,  visit our facebook page and like and share our information, and add your voice to the discussion in the comments of the Herald and News stories.  Also be sure to join us at our next meeting, Wednesday, February 13th!


Filed Under: Ballot Measure 
Herald and News Supports Klamath County School Bond
 

February 10, 2013  By   
In case you  missed it, here’s the Herald and News’ February 10th, 2013 endorsement of the Klamath County School District’s bond measure 18-91:


School bond issue built with care and no fluff


County district needs to upgrade its facilities


Good schools pay off in many ways.


They are often the core of a community and its neighborhoods — not just for education but for community events.


Good schools, which obviously include more than good buildings, also should be viewed as an economic incentive to attract business and professional people to Klamath Falls. Want doctors? Good schools can be a big part of what it takes to attract them.




The Klamath County School District has a $31 million bond issue on the May 21 ballot that speaks to all of those points, especially the welfare of the students and the educational atmosphere in the schools.






The district is playing catch-up with much-needed renovations and repairs, focusing on improvements that will last at least 20 years — the life of the bonds. A tax levy of 53 cents per $1,000 in assessed value would be used to retire the bonds. That comes out to $53 a year for someone who owns property with an assessed value of $100,000.






The “neighborhoods” involved in the widespread school district include small communities such as Gilchrist, Bonanza, Bly, Chiloquin, Keno, Merrill and Malin. The county district, however, also serves some of the urban area’s most heavily populated neighborhoods with three large elementary schools, a junior high and two high schools in the suburbs and close-in rural area.






All of the schools would get needed help from the bond issue’s projects, which range from completely replacing one school, Henley Elementary, to large-scale upgrades in fire alarm systems and lighting — obviously important to the safety of students and staff.






Henley Elementary School is served by portable units brought in after the building was closed in 2006 because of an asbestos problem discovered when other repairs were being made to the roof.






Replacement of the school was part of a $74.9 million bond issue defeated in 2006 for the school district. It’s been 40 years since the school district had a bond issue approved, and bond issues are usually the way that tax districts, such as school districts, pay for big capital projects.






Henley Elementary is the biggest single project in the package — $19.4 million. Some of the other major projects include Chiloquin Junior-Senior High School, $2.36 million; Ferguson Elementary School, $1.56 million; Peterson Elementary School, $1.6 million; and Stearns Elementary School, $1.45 million.






There are repairs and upgrades for every school in the district.






The care taken to develop the capital program was impressive. As Ray Holliday, the spokesman for the group, said in a meeting with the Herald and news editorial board: No salaries, no books, no other staff, no athletics, no fluff is in the proposal. It’s strictly a capital improvement program to last for years. An oversight committee, including members of the public, would be established to see that money is properly spent.






The school district carries no bonded debt and ranks as the lowest in bonded debt among Oregon counties, a position that will change little even if the bonds are approved.






It looks to us like the district and its supporters have done a proper job and the proposal deserves voter support. We hope that open houses at the various schools will be included in the runup to the election because the buildings themselves are probably the best selling point.






It’s tough to ask people during a recession to raise taxes. We understand that. But we think taking good care of schools can be part of the answer.






A map of the district is available at the school district’s website, kcsd.k12.or.us, on the left side of the opening page. The county district surrounds the Klamath Falls City School District, which is a separate district and isn’t involved in the






Editorial board






    The H&N View represents the opinion of the Herald and News Editorial Board.  Its members  are Publisher Heidi Wright, Editor Gerry O’Brien and Forum Editor Pat Bushey.






    Community advisers to the editorial board are Jeff Ball, Chip Massie and Sara Marcus.






    Pat Bushey wrote today’s editorial.




Filed Under: 18-91, Ballot Measure, Endorsements 
* What will the bond levy do to my taxes?
 

January 11, 2013  By   
This table shows how much a homeowner would pay if the Klamath County School District bond measure is approved in the May 21, 2013 election.


Column one lists assessed value. Column two shows the total annual tax amount for the bond measure. Column three shows how much the tax amount would be on a per-month basis.


Tax Table


Filed Under: Ballot Measure 
* $31 million bond measure proposed
 

January 11, 2013  By   
The Klamath County School District Board of Directors has approved a ballot measure that will ask voters to approve a $31 million bond in the May 21 election.


Reviewing a long list of proposed construction and renovation projects, the board deleted a paving project at Henley Middle School, and added a component to modernize lighting in several schools.


Voicing support for the ballot measure were John Adkisson and Ray Holliday, members of the Citizens for Klamath County Schools Political Action Committee.


The board directed Superintendent Greg Thede to find other options to fund paving and technology upgrades.


Filed Under: Ballot Measure 
« Previous Page