VOTERS NEED TO KNOW FACTS ON SCHOOL ISSUES

Three area school districts, all enjoying outstanding growth as families move in to take advantage of their educational offerings and quality of life, are considering tax levies to fund extra classrooms for the newcomers.

Oak Ridge and Scott City school districts will be asking voters on April 3 for a tax increase of 30 cents for each $100 of assessed valuation.

Oak Ridge, with enrollment growth of 10 percent in two years, would use the tax increase to pay for a $1.95 million bond issue to buy 30.5 acres behind the high school for future expansion and to build a middle school for grades 6 to 8 and a multipurpose building, among other things.

Scott City officials say they need the extra money for a bond issue to add 20 classrooms and an industrial arts building.

Members of committees formed to promote the bond issues are optimistic voters will say yes. Scott City superintendent Roger Tatum shares their optimism.

"I realize some people are opposed to any tax issue, and they will have to weigh in their own minds what's best for the students," he said.

Well put.

Certainly, the issues have a better chance of passing if district officials and the committees make a convincing argument. Under Missouri law, it will take a supermajority, or 57.14 percent, to pass the bond issues.

A third district, Kelly in Scott County, is taking a different approach after five bond proposals in four years have gone down in defeat.

The district has abandoned the bond-issue approach and has begun looking at a lease-purchase arrangement.

Under a lease-purchase, a foundation or other not-for-profit entity would issue the bonds and then own the newly construction additions until the district paid off its debt.

This approach requires a tax increase too.

The main difference: Because of the lease-purchase arrangement, the issue takes only a simple majority to pass. In the past, Kelly has seen bond issues gain 49 and 52 percent of the yes vote.

The Kelly School Board won't put the issue on the ballot before April 2002, but voters have the opportunity to educate themselves much sooner. There's an open meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Kelly band room.

Voters in all three districts should learn all they can before casting any vote.