Learn about the investment of the plan

If the referendum is approved, the district would invest $15.3 million into key facility improvements at the high school. This amount includes all issuance and financing costs.
To fund additional improvements to the high school, the school board decided to use $11.5 million of the district’s assigned fund balance, $500,000 of the district’s food service fund, and $6 million of the district’s LTFM funding to complete additional proposed renovations.
If the referendum is approved, the district would invest a total of $33.8 million in key educational space and deferred maintenance improvements to the high school — $15.3 million funded through the building bond referendum and $18.5 million funded through other district funds. Ultimately, the school board’s commitment of these funds lowers the overall tax impact of the building bond referendum to district taxpayers.
If the single-question ballot is approved, the estimated tax impact on a $200,000 residential home in the district would be approximately $4.68 per month starting in FY2026. The bonds would be issued for a period of 20 years.

Ag2School is a 70% tax credit provided to all agricultural property except the house, garage, and one acre surrounding the agricultural homestead. This is not a tax deduction – it’s a dollar-for-dollar credit and is an automatic tax credit paid directly by the state with no application required. This credit would remain at 70% for the life of the bond.
Ag2School credits would pay for approximately 33% of the referendum’s total debt service payments, equivalent to approximately $5 million. This state-funded credit reduces the contribution percentage for agricultural landowners to slightly less than residential landowners.

The school board believes this is the most tax equitable plan for district residents. Their goal is to provide all available benefits to district taxpayers by proposing a bond referendum rather than using a lease levy to fund these improvements. The Ag2School Tax Credit, which would pay for approximately 33% of the referendum project’s total debt service, applies for building bond referendums, but not lease levies.