Smithton R-VI School District Superintendent David Bray spent time at the Smithton Fair on Friday, July 10, answering questions from residents about Proposition T.I.G.E.R., a $3.5 million bond issue that will appear on the Aug. 4 special election ballot.
The measure would require a four-sevenths majority for approval and would fund a wide range of campus improvements, including safety and security upgrades, renovations to the elementary school entrance and drop-off area, playground improvements, parking expansion, HVAC replacement, LED lighting, classroom renovations, sidewalk upgrades, landscaping and other facility repairs.
Bray said the proposal is the result of years of planning.
“We started about six years ago with a long-range facility plan,” Bray said. “That team audited the facilities from top to bottom and developed a list of priorities for improvement across the campus.”
After completing several smaller projects, district leaders determined additional funding would be needed to address larger needs.
“We got to a point where we needed a greater sum of money in order to handle a bunch of unrelated projects,” Bray said. “We looked at different financing options to generate revenue, and what kept coming back was that we’d need to dedicate part of our levy to debt service to get these projects completed and then retire that debt within 20 years.”
Rather than asking voters simply to support the measure, Bray said his goal is to ensure residents have accurate information before casting their ballots.
“My hope is everybody goes to the polls with the right information,” Bray said. “I’m not asking anybody to vote one way or the other. If they have questions or they’re unsure about what’s going on, talk to me about the projects.”
Bray said the district has developed tools to help residents understand how the proposal would affect their property taxes.
“I have a tax calculator here that I can help people use,” Bray said. “They can plug in their assessed valuation and find out exactly how much this would cost on their home.”
District officials have campaigned for similar proposals in previous elections and have seen increasing voter support, Bray said.
“We’ve had a steady increase in our ‘yes’ population,” Bray said. “We hit 51 percent last time, and we need 57. That’s up from 42 percent, so we’ve steadily climbed over the past few elections.”
According to Bray, both the Board of Education and the community planning committee continue to support the project list developed through the district’s long-range planning process.
“Our board is united every time. They know this needs to get done,” Bray said. “That team of community members worked to develop this and knows it needs to get done. We just want to make sure everybody understands what the proposal is.”
Asked why the measure is important, Bray said the improvements are about preparing the district for future generations.
“I think it’s a way to show that we’re a school that’s ready for the future,” Bray said. “We’re preparing to meet the needs of all of our students and families well into the future. This allows us to take care of some serious safety and security issues that will make us a valuable place for years to come.”
Residents seeking additional information can visit the Smithton R-VI School District website, where a Proposition T.I.G.E.R. banner links to project details, frequently asked questions and a tax calculator.
Bray also encouraged voters not to overlook the August election.
“The biggest challenge is reminding people that Aug. 4 is an election day,” Bray said. “School elections in August can be easy to forget, so we need people to get out and vote.”
Chris Howell can be reached at 660-530-0146.
