On the Beat in Bluffton

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

N-B Numbers: Bluffton-Harrison board moves forward on BHES renovation

Bluffton-Harrison school board members Monday took a first, $12,500 step toward possibly renovating the elementary school.

One member, however, voted against the decision, saying that they should “slow down.”

By a 4-1 vote, members Daryl Elliott, Brent Hiday, Dawn Frauhiger and Jarrod Gerber approved hiring Dan Rawlins of InterDesign to essentially help coordinate the renovation work and review a tentative layout.

Board member Heath Schlagenhauf, however, said the renovation’s plan currently increases taxes by at least 17 percent, according to preliminary and deliberately high estimates shared Monday.

No one can determine the final tax rate, though, until Rawlins and administrators finalize the project.

Until then, though, Jim Elizondo of City Securities Monday presented “worst-case” tax rates needed to expand the school and replace the heating, ventilation and air condition system for no more than the $12 million ceiling Barker recommended.

The rates range in both amount and duration, but as illustrated below, all three payment plans increase the district’s Debt Service property tax rate from almost 55 cents for every $100 in assessed value to between 70 cents and 79 cents through at least 2022.

Learn more in the Tuesday, March 18, News-Banner. Click on the images for a larger resolution.

20-year repayment plan
The dark blue portion of the bars represent current debt. The red portion
represents new debt from the elementary renovations.

15.5-year repayment plan
The dark blue portion of the bars represent current debt. The red portion
represents new debt from the elementary renovations.
14-year repayment plan
The dark blue portion of the bars represent current debt. The red portion
represents new debt from the elementary renovations.

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