Brainerd School District: Attention voters - Bond referendum vote is Tuesday

Voters will head to the polls to cast ballots as part of the Brainerd School District bond referendum from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 10.

Voters will see three questions that seek a total of $145.71 million to improve all school facilities - including $12 million in improvements to Nisswa Elementary School. That number is part of a school district facilities improvement plan that totals $205 million.

Following is information Brainerd School District voters should know:

• The ballot has three questions.

This first pertains to improvements to elementary schools and early childhood education facilities for a total investment of $104 million from three funding sources; the voter-approved cost is $68.36 million.

The second question pertains to improvements to secondary schools and alternative education facilities for a total investment of $93 million from three funding sources; the voter-approved cost is $69.35 million.

The third question asks to build a performing arts center at Brainerd High School for a total investment of $8 million, all of which would be voter-approved funds.

The third question can pass only if the second question is approved since the performing arts center would be part of improvements to the high school.

• The tax impact is $7 per month based on a median value residential property in the school district of $156,200, if all three referendum questions pass. Visit www.blueprint181.org to use an interactive tax impact calculator to determine the impact to your property taxes based on your property's value.

• Visit www.blueprint181.org to find your polling place. Early voting is open, and absentee ballots are available from the Crow Wing County Elections Office at 218-824-1051.

The questions

• Question 1: The plan to address elementary schools and early childhood facilities needs preserves neighborhood schools; invests in all elementary buildings; increases safety, security and accessibility; enhances learning environments and technology integration; minimizes impact on families by limiting boundary changes; limits new construction; and creates flexibility for future.

The plan includes adding onto and remodeling Nisswa Elementary School, including early childhood education; and building a new Baxter Elementary School. Improvements would help elementary schools to be able to handle projected enrollment growth.

• Question 2: The plan to address secondary schools and alternative education facilities increases safety, security and accessibility; preserves the location of Brainerd High School in downtown Brainerd; enhances career and technical education and workforce development; increases technology integration; adds multipurpose/collaboration spaces, gym, swimming pool and a 950-seat auditorium; and creates flexibility for future.

• Question 3: Contingent upon approval of the second question, this plan upgrades the 950-seat auditorium in Question 2 to a 1,200-seat performing arts center.

Funding

Three projected funding sources include existing funding with no direct tax impact; and existing board authority and the voter approved authority, which both do have a direct tax impact.

• Existing funding totals $27.49 million, of which $18.3 million would go to elementary schools and $9.15 million would go to secondary schools.

• Existing board authority totals $31.8 million. This is funding the board can collect from taxpayers for specific projects, such as parking lots and indoor air quality projects.

• Voter-approved authority totals $145.71 million. This is what will be on the referendum ballot with $68.36 million for elementary schools, $69.35 million for secondary schools, and $8 million for the performing arts center.

SIDEBAR:

Visit www.blueprint181.org for lots of information or call 218-454-6900 with questions.