Ballots for Moses Lake bonds proposal mailed

MOSES LAKE — Ballots for a Moses Lake School District bonds proposal were mailed Friday.

To be counted in the special election, the ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 6.

The last time the school district brought a bonds sale to voters was in 1993.

The ballots are for a $33.8 million bonds proposal. The funds would help pay for two new elementary schools, the first elementary schools constructed since 1956.

Other improvements are an expansion of special education space, an additional gym at Chief Moses Middle School, safety upgrades, technology upgrades at all schools, a completion of the Lions Field project, and new facilities for the district's transportation, maintenance and warehouse departments.

The state is providing matching funds of more than $14 million toward the elementary schools, should voters approve the bonds issue, said Co-Chair of Citizens for Progress in Education Mike Bolander.

The bonds would be paid back during the next 20 years.

"I'm in support of this bond issue for a number of reasons. One is because the growth in the community and in school enrollment is a genuine issue," Bolander said. "It's been 50 years since elementary school expansion took place in the district."

Bolander said as a human resource manager working in the community, he knows the role quality schools and health care plays in attracting employees. Bolander is director of administrative services for Columbia Colstor Inc.

Commercial and industrial businesses would be the largest tax payers of the bond, and a group of major employers is supporting it, he said.

"They recognize that while it's a cost, it's also an investment in the community and that employers do have a responsibility or a need to develop and maintain the communities in which they operate," Bolander said.

Committee Co-Chair Juliann Dodds said the two new elementary schools are going to address one of the biggest issues the district faces with the growth occurring. The first would be built as soon as possible on existing property owned by the district, Dodds said.

"The district in the past has done some good planning so they own these chunks of ground throughout town, which is very good," she said.

The estimated collection rate for the new bond proposal is 55 cents per $1,000 assessed home value.

The tax rate for 2007, including a current bond and maintenance and operations levy, is $4.80 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. In 2008, the collection rate would increase to $5.47 per $1,000 assessed valuation. The rate would drop in 2009 to $4.95, resulting in landowners paying 15 cents more than 2007.

Dodds said taxpayers are getting a good deal, since they are getting matching funds from the state, resulting in $47.8 million in improvements.

"I think the community's been very supportive and very open to listening," Dodds said. "It's a big commitment and it's going to be one that we're going to have to continue, and it's been very positive."