This is old news, but I just wanted to give everyone a chance to comment on it: District 150, it was reported last Friday in the paper, is going to spend $94 million in new buildings and renovations. Here’s how it breaks down:
| Harrison Primary |
$21.2 M |
| Lincoln Middle |
$19.7 M |
| Glen Oak |
$27.9 M |
Richwoods Attendance Area
(Kellar, Lindbergh, Northmoor, Richwoods) |
$12.0 M |
| New math/sci/tech academy |
$11.7 M |
| SSA bldg. renovation |
$1.2 M |
| Total |
$93.7 M |
And where will all this money come from? According to the paper, $72 million will come from the Public Building Commission ($28 million from a previous request, $44 million in a new request), and “[t]he nearly $22 million remaining would come from the District 150’s own bonding authority and about $8.2 million in cash balances.” The paper also said that “Board President David Gorenz said the board was intent on working within its means without raising the tax rate while at the same time trying to make the greatest impact.”
Now I have some questions about all this. First of all, the paper reported on Nov. 30, 2006, that the school board would only have access to “up to $60 million” from the Public Building Commission. When and how did that get increased to $72 million? Also, according to information I got from District 150 via FOIA request, the school district can spend a little over $33.9 million in fire prevention and safety funds on these projects. So why aren’t they using all of those funds first before asking the Public Building Commission for more money?
Here’s the problem with trying to keep track of what’s going on with District 150 — the numbers change often and with no explanation. At the time we all thought $60 million was the cap for PBC funding, we were told that the tax rate would stay the same because other bonds would be paid off, so it would be a wash. Now that the number has increased to $72 million, we’re still told the tax rate won’t go up. How can that be?
Also, anyone know what STS Consultants said it would cost to replace Glen Oak School? If you guessed $7.95 million, you’re right! Cost to renovate that building: $8.36 million. Now it’s going to cost $27.9 million to build a new Glen Oak School. Wow.
