Lamar School District Sets Community Forum for Proposed Levy Increase

Lamar High School

The Lamar Re-2 School District has set Tuesday, September 25^th at 7pm as the date for a community forum at the Lamar High School auditorium to explain ballot 4A, a mill levy question for district voters in the November General Election.

Earlier this summer, Lamar Superintendent of Schools, David Tecklenburg, told The Prowers Journal, the district had been awarded a BEST Grant of $4.4 million which could be used to upgrade infrastructure projects at the Lamar High School and Lincoln School. The cost of the entire project is $8,357,099 and the balance would come from a levy increase of .00380 ($3.80) per $1,000 of assessed property to be approved by local voters in November.  BEST grants, (Building Excellent Schools Today) are provided by Colorado to build or improve schools as has been the case in Holly and for Alta Vista Charter School.  This mill levy would retire in 20 years for the life of the bonds.

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Tecklenburg said BEST grants have already been used for earlier upgrades to Washington and Parkview Schools and the Middle School, but the state match for the balance of the project, $3,927,837, which would be covered by the approved levy, would have to come from the voters.

The funding would provide for improvements ranging from a comprehensive districtwide security monitoring system with video storage capacity as well as live, real-time monitoring. Some of the other projects include new HVAC control systems, window replacements, fire response system upgrades, hazardous materials abatement and improved indoor air quality.

Question 4A will be on the November ballot to approve a bond request of $3,950,000 which covers 47% of the project. Based on the levy, a home valued at $150,000 would be $41.04, for $75,000 valuation, the levy would be $20.52.  There are higher rate structures for commercial property.  Tecklenburg had said the forums would be scheduled to provide answers to questions of residents and citizens regarding the ballot proposal.

By Russ Baldwin