Although the final plan for a remodeling/addition project for the Brandon-Evansville School District won’t be finalized until July, school board members decided on a funding option for the proposed November referendum .
The bulk of the money – approximately $14.2 million – would be coming from a voter approved referendum, which would have a tax impact on voters. That referendum is expected to be on the November ballot.
Other funding sources include an ESSER III Federal Grant in the amount of $379,490 and general obligation facility bonds in the amount of $531,792. Those two funding sources would not have a tax impact.
For this option, the yearly tax impact on a homestead residential property with an estimated market value of $150,000 would be $192.02 or about $16 per month.
School board members, by consensus, gave Superintendent Don Peschel the go-ahead for the funding option at the Monday, June 21, regular school board meeting. Peschel wanted to know so that he would be able to bring the conceptual plans forward to the July school board meeting. At that meeting, the school board would approve and finalize the plans in the form of a resolution so that the district can formally move forward with the November referendum.
ADVERTISEMENT
Community members had an opportunity to see the proposed plans and talk about the referendum with school officials at an open house on June 15. About 75 people showed up, which Peschel was pleased with. During Monday night’s meeting, Peschel told school board members that the majority of people who showed up seemed to be in support of the proposed project.
The conceptual plan for the Evansville school includes the addition of two classrooms, commons area, multi-purpose gymnasium and a new parking area. In Brandon, the plan includes a new gym with varsity size floor, additional classroom space, a fitness room that could be open to the community and a new storage shed facility that would house a bus, mini bus, van and other items.
