By John McCallum
Editor 

Schools bond heads to voters

Cheney board endorses $52 million measure set for February

 

Last updated 12/15/2016 at 9:30am



The Cheney School Board made it official at their only meeting in December last Wednesday that their proposed $52 million capital facilities bond measure will be on the upcoming Feb. 14, 2017 ballot. The board approved the bond resolution, which includes ballot language, 5-0 at the Dec. 7 meeting.

According to information from the district, if voters approve the measure, the 21-year bonds would be repaid by a 78 cent per $1,000 of assessed value increase in property taxes in the district.

The eight-page resolution contains language spelling out the conditions of the bond sale, obligations to taxpayers for repayment and responsibilities of the school district. It also contains language that spells out exactly why the school board is calling for the measure and the selling of bonds upon passage, and an eight-point description of the projects that would be completed with the money provided through sale of the bonds.

The actual ballot language voters will see is a nine-line paragraph near the end of the resolution. The district’s bond counsel, Jim McNeil of the firm Foster Peppers, said this is just a first step in the process, but it’s important people understand what the resolution does.

“The (Washington) Supreme Court has said that when voters are approving the ballot title, they’re approving the resolution,” McNeil said.

If 60 percent of school district voters approve the measure, the district will sell bonds to pay for expansion and improvements to four school buildings. Cheney High School will see the addition of 17 classrooms, new physical education spaces such as a practice gym, fitness center and wrestling room, 500-seat auditorium and remodeled commons and front entrance.

Betz Elementary School next door to the high school would get seven new classrooms and a remodeled entry way. Sunset Elementary School in Airway Heights would get 10 new classrooms along with a new gym and entry way, and Windsor Elementary School near Marshall would see eight new classrooms, new multipurpose room along with work to its kitchen and entry way.

The board also adopted a resolution expressing its support for the bonds. McNeil said the state’s Public Disclosure Commission has indicated adopting the bond resolution itself is not a sufficient means with which to indicate the board’s support.

An official resolution of support gives individual board members an official document with which to point to when asked by community members how they stand on the measure.

“It seems redundant, but we’re trying to be consistent with the PDC,” McNeil said.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.

Author Bio

John McCallum, Retired editor

John McCallum is an award-winning journalist who retired from Cheney Free Press after more than 20 years. He received 10 Washington Newspaper Publisher Association awards for journalism and photography, including first place awards for Best Investigative, Best News and back-to-back awards in Best Breaking News categories.

 

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