The action came after the Kings school board in late November approved putting a similar-sized tax bond issue on the March ballot after voters in that district rejected a tax hike that would have paid for a new junior high school and other district construction.
On Nov. 5, voters in Kings school district rejected a proposed 4.96-mill, $90 million bond issue to build a new Kings Schools junior high building and expand, renovate the high school.
Voters in Kings will next decide on a slightly reduced a 4.7 mill, $89.9 million bond issue on the ballot.
In a statement released by Kings officials, they said “the millage dropped slightly from 4.96 due to the new property valuations for 2020. Property values in the district increased at an average of 14 percent.”
If approved by voters, the newly proposed, 4.7-mill tax increase would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $165 per year, said officials.
Student enrollment has increased by more than 600 students in the last five years, they said. The growing enrollment has found the district with no additional classroom space in four out of six buildings.
“The facilities master plan includes either renovating or adding new construction to those four buildings. It also re-purposes existing sites to avoid costly land acquisition, development, and utility costs,” said officials.
“The need hasn’t changed. Four of our six buildings have no space left. The other two buildings are getting close to capacity as well,’’ said Kings Board of Education President Peggy Phillips.
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