JACKSON SCHOOL PROPOSALS ON BALLOT

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Education will include two funding measures on election ballots Aug. 8.

In split decisions Tuesday night, the board approved proposals amounting to a total tax levy increase of 50 cents per $100 assessed valuation to fund improvements to R.O. Hawkins Junior High and additional funding for the operating budget. Board member Brent Wills was out of town and did not attend the meeting.

Board members allowed comment from 11 people at the meeting during their 90-minute consideration of three funding proposals. Board president Dr. T. Wayne Lewis said public input will be important as school officials try to improve communication with the public, but the final decisions had to be made by the school board.

"We had a lot of good comments at the two community meetings, but at this point the buck stops here," said Lewis. "The board has to make the decision that's right for the district."

The first issue voters will consider is a $6 million bond issue to finance an addition and renovations to R.O. Hawkins Junior High. The measure requires a 10-cent debt service levy increase to fund construction of 18 classrooms, a gymnasium and all-purpose room, an expanded kitchen area, work in the parking lot and some new air conditioning and technology in the district.

The bonds would be repaid over 20 years.

The board approved the measure in 5 to 1. Board member Vicky McDowell cast the lone dissenting vote because she did not support holding the election in August.

"My concern is when to go forward with this," said McDowell. "August only gives us two months to get this moving and gather the support we need."

The second proposal seeks a full elimination of the Proposition C waiver and increase in the operating tax levy by 40 cents to $3.15 per $100 assessed valuation. The additional funding would be used for operating expenses, including hiring additional faculty and staff. The measure was approved 4 to 2. Board members Mark Baker and Jeannette Bollinger cast the dissenting votes.

Baker and Bollinger supported a lesser funding proposal that sought only a full elimination of the Proposition C waiver. The measure would have resulted in an operating tax increase of about 27 cents per $100 assessed valuation.

The measure was supported over the 40-cent tax increase by a majority of the community members attending the meeting.

"I personally think 40 cents is going to be next to impossible to get passed," said Fritz Sander. "Whether we need it or whether we don't, I don't see much hope of getting 40 cents passed."

Schools Superintendent Ron Anderson said either proposal will mean more state funding for the district. Every additional dollar raised locally generates from $1.60 to $1.82 in additional state aid, he said.

Regardless of the measures, Anderson said additional funding is needed because projections indicate the district will be out of money within two years. "After this year funding falls off drastically, and we just can't make it," he said.

The August issues will mark the second time this year Jackson voters will be asked to increase funding for the district. In April, voters rejected a $5.3 million bond issue that would have funded a new elementary school in the eastern portion of the district, an addition and renovations to R.O. Hawkins, and some new technology equipment throughout the district.

Voters also defeated the district's Proposition C rollback waiver that would have allowed the district to increase the operating tax levy by 40 cents.