What it asks: “Without imposing any new tax, shall St. Vrain Valley School District debt be increased $739.8 million, with a maximum total repayment cost of not more than $998.9 million for the purposes of:
Improving safety and security, including secure entry vestibules, building access controls, first responder communications, and fire sprinklers;
Replacing outdated electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems, and addressing other repairs and renovations to extend the useful life of school buildings, reduce emergency repairs, improve air quality and enhance energy efficiency;
Constructing a career and technical education center to enhance and expand vocational classes and providing additional instructional space for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming;
Providing classroom additions and constructing and equipping new school buildings to address overcrowding and future enrollment increases;
And for acquiring, constructing or improving any capital assets that the district is authorized by law to own;
And shall the taxes authorized at the district’s bond elections in 2002, 2008 and 2016 be extended and authorized to be used to pay the debt authorized at this election in addition to the debt authorized at such prior elections; such debt to be evidenced by the issuance and payment of general obligation bonds, which shall bear interest, mature, be subject to redemption, with or without premium of not to exceed 3%, and be issued, dated and sold at such time or times, at such prices (at, above or below par) and in such manner and containing such terms, not inconsistent herewith, as the district may determine; and shall ad valorem property taxes be imposed in any year, without limitation as to rate, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such bonds and any bonds issued to refinance such bonds and to fund any reserves for the payment thereof; and shall the district be subject to an annual independent audit published on the district’s website and expenditures will be subject to review by a board appointed citizens oversight committee?”
What it means: The St. Vrain Valley School District is asking for a $739.8 million bond issue to pay for five new buildings. The plan includes three new schools to handle expected enrollment growth over the next 10 years in the Carbon Valley, Erie and Mead areas, as well as a second Career and Technical Educational Center for those students. There also would be a new building for Longmont’s St. Vrain Community Montessori, a charter school. Along with new buildings, the proposal includes money for maintenance, repairs and safety improvements at existing schools, and money to add classrooms and reconfigure outdated spaces. To raise the money, the district would extend mill levy increases authorized by voters for previous bond issues. Property taxes would not increase. With interest, the estimated total repayment cost is $998.9 million.
What supporters say: The bond issue is needed to address enrollment growth and expand access to career and technical education offerings. Delaying maintaining schools as buildings age and major systems reach their end of life also will allow buildings to deteriorate and costs to increase. Bond spending will be overseen by a public accountability committee, ensuring the money is spent as intended.
What opponents say: Taxes are too high, and property owners, especially those on fixed incomes, would benefit from a tax reduction if the measure isn’t approved. The district should use its operating money for building maintenance instead of going into debt and should require developers to cover the cost of new schools needed because of growth.