A new bond measure on the November ballot for the Nevada Joint Union High School District does also have some organized opposition. Wade Freedle, with the locally-formed group “Citizens for Better Schools”, questions the 47-million dollar cost for Measure B. He believes that one of the two high schools will have to close in the next 5 to 10 years, due to declining enrollment…
click to listen to Wade Freedle
The District says the 56-year-old Nevada Union High School is in dire need of new water, gas, sewer, and utility lines, as well as roofing upgrades, painting, and accessibility improvements. They say the 30-year-old Bear River High School needs new heating and air conditioning systems, roofing, rennovated kitchen facilities, along with classroom upgrades. Freedle acknowledges that some major work is needed, but says he hasn’t seen sufficient documentation for the pricetag…
click to listen to Wade Freedle
It’s estimated that Measure B would cost homeowners an average of 15 dollars per 100-thousand dollars of their homes’ assessed value over the life of the bond. It would need 55-percent to pass.
Gene Denman
That the NJUHS needs a significant amount of money to address the needs specified in Measure B is without question. Great schools are necessary to provide the best chance for our children and our nation to have a successful future. Monetarily, more than any other single factor, great schools elevate and under gird property values. By voting, we are to trust that a careful evaluation of the separate costs each of the enumerated needs has been made. That said I have several concerns about Measure B.
1. Before voting we need to see publicized the specific breakdown of the $47M in funds to be allocated. Without this how are we to be assured that the need is for $47M and not $$37M or $57M or somewhere in between?
2. It may be a minor point but it needs stating that because assessed evaluations increase by at least 2%/year the $19/100K assessed evaluation will increase by over 81% during the lifetime of a 30 year bond.
3. Because all money is fungible the Measure B statement that, “No funds can be used for administrators’ salaries and pensions” needs to be deleted. Except for colas, unless administrators’ salaries are frozen this statement is both meaningless and misleading.
4. Finally, failure to include a significant penalty for contractor-caused delays and cost overruns before construction of both the Juvenal Hall and the Rood Center left Nev. Co. citizens with the bill for contractor errors. Can we be guaranteed that all contracts related to Measure B will include such a clause?
Gene Denman