LAKEWOOD — Voters in the Lakewood School District are getting a second chance in the April 22 special election to consider a bond that would pay for Lakewood High School’s renovation.
The $66.8 million bond was also on the Feb. 11 ballot, but it failed by just 32 votes. Bond measures need a 60 percent super-majority to pass.
The narrow margin of loss gave the school district and its board of directors the confidence to run the same measure again without changing it.
Fred Owyen, the capital projects manager for the district, said that the in the wake of the narrow loss he and the board heard from people who would have supported the vote but for one reason or another had not cast a ballot.
That gave them the confidence to re-run the ballot measure as-is.
“There were voters out there that just simply didn’t vote, and we’re hoping they’ll rally this time around and push this bond election into the winning side,” Owyen said.
If Proposition 1 passes, property owners in the district will pay a tax levy of $2.49 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
However, because the district’s current technology and capital projects levy is expiring this year and not being replaced, property owners will see their tax assessment rise by just 51 cents to a total of $5.93 per $1,000 if the measure passes.
For the owner of a $250,000 home, the total tax bill would rise by $128 to $1,482.50 for 2015.
The funds raised by the bond would pay for a number of projects at Lakewood High School, including major improvements to the school’s security and access, its heating, electrical and plumbing systems, for more classroom, lab and studio space to handle the anticipated future growth in the district.
The bond will also allow the district to improve parking and traffic patterns around the school.
If the bond measure passes, the school district will also be able to receive an additional $5.3 million from the state to fund athletic facilities at the school.
Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
