By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
In a brief meeting Monday morning, the Hays USD 489 Board of Education approved a resolution that allows a $94 million bond issue election to proceed on June 7.
Following the resolution, ballot language will be published and filed with the appropriate agencies in order to proceed with the election.
While the meeting was brief, the outcome could weigh heavily on voters in June.
During the meeting, the board split the bond into two propositions – one to fund the bulk of the bond and a second that would be used for gyms to be built at Hays High and Hays Middle Schools.
The proposition for the gyms is $8.9 million of the total $94 million bond. Voters can opt to vote for one, both or none of the propositions.
“I think my biggest concern that if we do a two-question (ballot), we are automatically cutting (the gyms) off,” said Luke Oborny, board member.
While the board wants to ensure voters have options in the bond issue, they recognize the need for the gyms and hope the public will support both propositions.
“I hate to keep calling them gyms as they are multi-purpose rooms, and we can use them for so many things,” Oborny said.
The board also argued the multi-purpose rooms would benefit more than USD 489, as they be used for regional activities that would bring revenue into Hays.
“Businesses and things like that, in my opinion, should really be on board with this, just due to the fact it’s going to help them,” said Lance Bickle, board president.
As the bond issue has progressed over recent months, many have questioned the need for the multi-purpose rooms, calling the bond issue too large in scope, but board members hopes, as information is presented to the community, voters will ultimately support both propositions.
“It all goes back to education,” Bickle said.
The likelihood of a successful bond was increased last week with the Hays City Commission approving, in a 2-1 vote, a sales tax question be put on the June ballot.
The board sought the sales tax question to help lower the impact on property owners who would otherwise pay for the entire project.
The board would likely set the bond term to 20 years if the sales tax is approved, shaving five years off the length of the bond — and saving millions in interest payments.
Now that the board passed the ballot resolution and the Hays City Commission scheduled the sales to question to coincide with the other propositions, educating the public about the bond will now be the biggest challenge the board faces — a task complicated by the three propositions on a single ballot.
With multiple questions, the election is required by law to be a walk-in election.
The board had hoped early on for a mail-in ballot, but the desire to give the public options was decided to be more important.
“Much like the sale tax, what I like offering with the two propositions is we’re giving people a choice,” said Sarah Rankin, board member.
The district will host two bond educational town hall meetings this week. The first is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Hays High School, 2300 E. 13th. The second is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the 12th Street Auditorium, 334 W. 12th.