BCSD Aug. 30 Bond Election
BONNERS FERRY — The Boundary County School District will run a $16.4 million 20-year school bond for a new Valley View Elementary in the Aug. 30 election.
BCSD Superintendent Jan Bayer told the Bonners Ferry Herald that the district listened to patron input from the community survey and have removed the capital project of updating bleachers at the football and track field.
The proposed bond is to replace Valley View Elementary School, construction an addition to the shop at Bonners Ferry High School, and renovating the shop at Boundary County Middle School. In addition, it will construct traffic flow solutions and paving at Naples Elementary School; construct a new roof at Mount Hall Elementary School; and repairing, renovating and remodeling other existing schools and facilities in the district.
The anticipated interest rate of the proposed bond issue is 3.48%, based on current market rates.
The estimated average annual cost to the taxpayer on the proposed bond levy is a tax of $83 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions. Currently, the BCSD collects a bond levy in the amount of $60 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, which will be replaced by the bond levy for the proposed bonds. The estimated average cost to the taxpayer per $100,000 of taxable assessed value will increase by $23 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value.
Bayer said due to the raising of cost, the bond is set at the previous price of $16.4 million.
More information on the bond language for the ballot is still coming. Keep checking the BCSD website for updates. Mailers with more information will be sent out next week.
To help residents understand what the maintenance and operation and bond levy taxes will cost them, BCSD officials added a section to their website. That tax calculator can be found at https://www.bcsd101.com/ under the tab “August 30, Bond Election Tax Calculator.”
“This spreadsheet reflects what will approximately show on your December 2022 tax bill, once the assessed market value is certified in September. This information cannot be reflected on our ballot because it is not official at the county level,” school district officials said on the website.
In January 2020, Boundary County School District No. 101 formed a facilities committee to collaborate on a 10-year facilities plan.
“We, as a district, are thankful for the diverse community members willing to serve on the committee: Merle Ansley, Gary Aitken, Jr., Cal Bateman, Kristie Campbell, Mark Carey, Ryan Comer, Clark Fairchild, Wesley Hubbard, Chris Pease, Bob Overman, Teresa Rae, Tony Rohrwasser, Ron Smith, and Anne Tompkins,” district officials said on the website. “No decisions or recommendations were made without careful consideration and the impact on our community.”
The four goals identified by the district for the facilities committee included the following:
1) Build public relations by seeking community input on where we go with our facilities;
2) Provide the best facilities for our students within our fiscal capacity;
3) Make recommendations to the School Board for our facilities; and
4) Support, in the larger community as a whole, the recommendations made to the school board.
District officials said the committee worked diligently to suggest a bond and maintenance list to maximize the use of funds, be fiscally responsible to the community, maintain facilities, and create safe and healthy learning environments for students and staff. The committee is eager to continue their work by supporting the recommendations, they added.
District officials said they are happy to present information to any community group, meetings and large groups. Please call Jan Bayer, superintendent, at 208-267-3146 or email her at jan.bayer@mail.bcsd101.com if you have any questions, want to schedule a meeting, and/or want to tour school facilities.