Polls will be open in less than two weeks to determine whether to issue a $26.3 million in bonds for the Mid-Prairie School District.

A special election to ask residents if general obligation bonds should be issued for several building projects and for the Debt Service Levy rate to be raised from $2.70 per thousand dollars of assessed value to $4.05. Superintendent Mark Schneider emphasizes that the Debt Service Levy Rate is anticipated to increase to $3.30 and not go to the highest new rate. He explains that in order to sell the bonds, they need to set a higher limit, “So for instance, I have a credit card. It has a $3,000 limit. That doesn’t mean I have to spend to $3,000, it just means I have the ability. The one thing  I’ve been assuring voters of is the difference between $3.30 and $4.05 is 75 cents. In order for the board to sell more bonds and pay it back using that 75 cents, they would have to come back to the voters again.”

If both ballot questions pass with a 60% majority, the referendum would fund the construction of an auditorium at the high school, a new middle school gymnasium, parking lot improvements at East and West Elementary and the high school among other projects. Funding for all of the proposed projects would total $37.62 million and come from the referendum, sales tax sources, and donations. The deadline has passed to request a mailed absentee ballot, but absentee voting can be done in person at the Washington County Auditor’s Office at the county courthouse until 5 p.m. Monday, February 28th (The courthouse will be closed on Monday, February 21st for President’s Day). Election day is Tuesday, March 1st from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. For further information on proposed projects, visit here.