Jackson cuts millions in school plan

Jackson voters will face an amended, less-expensive plan for a new high school that needs only a 50 percent majority vote to pass in the August election.

The school board voted 6-0 to approve a $19.8 million lease-purchase agreement proposal at its meeting Tuesday night, downsizing from the original $27 million bond issue that failed in November and April elections. Board member Teri Tomlin was not at Tuesday's meeting.

About 34,000 square feet have been shaved off the original plan, including the elimination of a new agriculture/industrial arts building, a library space 1,000 square feet smaller than planned and a classroom addition with six to eight classrooms being left out.

"We went to the voters twice with plan A, but I think it's time to go to plan B now," said Gerald Adams, president of the school board. "I think this takes into consideration the 45 percent of our patrons who thought the original $27 million was too high."

The lease-purchase proposal calls for a levy increase of 49 cents per $100 assessed valuation, which would raise the tax rate to $3.61. For the owner of a $100,000 home, that would mean an estimated $93.10 annual increase on property taxes.

In the new plan, the current A building will not be torn down but will instead be used to house the district's alternative school and other classes as necessary. The remodeling of the current C building will be reduced and a 5,000-square-foot group instruction facility has been eliminated.

The agriculture and industrial arts programs will move to the building that currently houses the Primary Annex -- which will send its students to classrooms not being used at other Jackson elementaries -- and improvements to the football stadium have been eliminated.

"In our original conversations back in 2001, this seemed to be what the people were telling us, to meet our most urgent needs," said board member Jim Woeltje. "I think this does that."

Superintendent Dr. Ron Anderson said the need to put the issue before voters again as soon as possible stems from increasing interest rates and construction materials cost.

Anderson said he anticipates long-term interest rates increasing by about 1 percent in the next year, which would mean an additional $3 million or so in additional interest the district would have to pay over the lifetime of the bonds.

The lease-purchase agreements allow the district to put the issue on the August ballot and require only a 50 percent majority approval to pass, unlike the previous elections which required a four-sevenths majority vote.

Similar to a general obligation bond issue, the district will issue "leasehold" revenue bonds, entering into a financing agreement with a not-for-profit corporation.

However, lease purchase agreements do not allow for adjustments in the tax rate without voter approval to make payments on the bonds if assessed valuation drops.

The district has used lease-purchase agreements in construction projects at Orchard Elementary and Hawkins Junior High. The Cape Girardeau County jail and Show Me Center are other examples of facilities paid for through lease-purchase.

cmiller@semissourian.com

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