On April 4, there will be an issue on the ballot in Springfield, MO to complete several projects for the Springfield Public School system. This issue is called Proposition B and it is an 18-cent bond proposal. It will address needs such as: overcrowding, air conditioning, repairs and renovations, and upgrade some science and technology labs.
Down to the nuts and bolts: If a person owns a $100,000 home, he will pay $34.20 more per year in property taxes. That really isn’t very much money, considering one might spend that on a dinner for two.
The price tag for this is $96.5 million and will affect more than 21,000 students. Currently, the district’s debt service levy is 33-cents per $100 of assess valuation. This proposal will increase that by 18 cents, giving Springfield a debt service levy of 51-cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
Interestingly enough, many of us in Springfield feel that we spend a lot of money in school taxes. I was very surprised to discover that most of the area school districts have much higher debt service levies.
My daughter will go to Cowden Elementary area will attend Pershing Middle School. Students then have the choice to attend Parkview or Kickapoo high schools. All of these schools (Cowden, Pershing, Parkview and Kickapoo) will benefit from this bond. Cowden and Pershing will get air conditioning while Parkview and Kickapoo will see new renovations and upgrades. It will really help many other schools.
Personally, I have always felt that Springfield wastes a lot of its money on high paid administrators and that is why our classrooms are lacking. While I still think that the Springfield School District has too many highly paid upper-level administrators, I am now wondering if our classrooms are lacking because our debt levy is so much lower than other area districts. No wonder Nixa and Willard have such good classrooms. Maybe our forth graders would have technology classrooms (like in Willard) if we paid more. Not that I want to pay more, but I also want my daughter to get a good education and also learn to use technology. I certainly want her to have air conditioning. I can tell you, as an aspiring elementary school teacher, I would prefer to teach in an air-conditioned environment. It’ sure ain’t pretty when a fat man sweats like a dancing mule.
I, for one, always believe in supporting our schools and our school children. We have enough children who are illiterate, to not support our schools. If this bond issue passes Springfield will still have a bond levy lower than the surrounding schools. Throwing money at a problem does not necessarily fix it, but in this case, this money will be used to physically improve the schools and that will impact everyone. When you have good schools, you have property that increases in value and it’s always good to have your investment grow.
Down to the nuts and bolts: If a person owns a $100,000 home, he will pay $34.20 more per year in property taxes. That really isn’t very much money, considering one might spend that on a dinner for two.
The price tag for this is $96.5 million and will affect more than 21,000 students. Currently, the district’s debt service levy is 33-cents per $100 of assess valuation. This proposal will increase that by 18 cents, giving Springfield a debt service levy of 51-cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
Interestingly enough, many of us in Springfield feel that we spend a lot of money in school taxes. I was very surprised to discover that most of the area school districts have much higher debt service levies.
Springfield’s current levy –- 33¢
Nixa -– $1.06
Willard -– 69¢
Ozark –- $1.09
Rogersville -– 86¢
Branson –- 70¢
Strafford -– 70¢
Republic –- 55¢
Springfield’s levy if the bond passes – 51¢
My daughter will go to Cowden Elementary area will attend Pershing Middle School. Students then have the choice to attend Parkview or Kickapoo high schools. All of these schools (Cowden, Pershing, Parkview and Kickapoo) will benefit from this bond. Cowden and Pershing will get air conditioning while Parkview and Kickapoo will see new renovations and upgrades. It will really help many other schools.
Personally, I have always felt that Springfield wastes a lot of its money on high paid administrators and that is why our classrooms are lacking. While I still think that the Springfield School District has too many highly paid upper-level administrators, I am now wondering if our classrooms are lacking because our debt levy is so much lower than other area districts. No wonder Nixa and Willard have such good classrooms. Maybe our forth graders would have technology classrooms (like in Willard) if we paid more. Not that I want to pay more, but I also want my daughter to get a good education and also learn to use technology. I certainly want her to have air conditioning. I can tell you, as an aspiring elementary school teacher, I would prefer to teach in an air-conditioned environment. It’ sure ain’t pretty when a fat man sweats like a dancing mule.
I, for one, always believe in supporting our schools and our school children. We have enough children who are illiterate, to not support our schools. If this bond issue passes Springfield will still have a bond levy lower than the surrounding schools. Throwing money at a problem does not necessarily fix it, but in this case, this money will be used to physically improve the schools and that will impact everyone. When you have good schools, you have property that increases in value and it’s always good to have your investment grow.
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