By Ann Marie Shambaugh
Eagle and Pleasant View elementary schools are one step closer to getting new roofs after the Zionsville school board approved the issuance of two $2 million general obligation bonds to fund them and other projects.
The roof repairs are among top priorities identified by a recent facilities study. Other projects funded through the bonds are window and door updates, curb repairs and replacement of the central plant at Pleasant View and renovations to the tennis courts at Zionsville Middle School.
According to ZCS, the maximum annual debt service fund tax rate necessary to pay the annual debt service of the bonds is estimated at nearly 4 cents per $100 in assessed valuation, but with increases in assessed values and debt being paid down elsewhere, the district does not expect the tax rate to change much, if at all.
“We are very pleased to be able to stand here and say we can do this and we can maintain a consistent tax rate without disrupting in any material way the projections we showed you when we did the budget hearing on Oct. 10,” Shafer said.
The board unanimously approved the resolutions after a public hearing during which no one spoke. The district expects to award bids for the projects in February with renovations beginning in May and finishing by Aug. 31, 2017.
In other action, the school board:
- Approved Ethics in Science and Studio Art (AP): 2D Art as new classes at Zionsville Community High School for the 2017-18 school year
- Authorized the advertisement of bids for a farm lease of approximately 200 acres of land owned by ZCS. Last year the lease brought in nearly $60,000 to the general fund.
- Approved a request to trade in five aging maintenance vehicles to purchase a new utility tractor and RTV utility vehicle.