Published: October 01, 2008 10:29 am      

Plan to go before voters

Forums, vote to be held on improvement plan for schools

CLINTON — The Clinton Community School District’s Facilities Taskforce Committee is moving closer to putting a revenue purpose statement before voters to determine how to use the income from the one-cent sales tax.

Voted into law by Gov. Chet Culver in April, the new statewide version of the one-cent sales tax repeals the existing local version. Committee members noted that, because of this change, the school district must restate how they intend to use those funds.

Superintendent Richard Basden stated the district hopes to use the money to fund much-needed repairs and renovations for it’s aging secondary schools, as well as the installation of air conditioning at Whittier and Bluff elementary schools. He noted the improvements would reduce energy and maintenance costs, while providing adequate facilities for students.

Basden also pointed out the one-cent sales tax has been integral in the district’s ability to build the new Eagle Heights and Jefferson schools, and he hopes the community will continue to support the much-needed improvements to the district’s other buildings.

“We have four outstanding elementary schools, and now we need to move on to the middle and high schools,” Basden said. “This one cent is vital to making that happen.”

An election is being planned for Dec. 2, during which voters will have the opportunity to approve or reject the revenue purpose statement. Basden told committee members the tax will go into effect across the state regardless of the outcome of the vote, but the new version allows the district to access those funds to build, renovate and improve facilities.

“It gives the district more control over where the money is going to go,” he said.

According to Gayle Isaac, the district’s chief financial officer, if the revenue purpose statement is voted down, the income generated by the one-cent sales tax will be used to pay down the debt service and PPEL levies, which amount to more than $1 million.

A series of public forums are being planned for Oct. 14 and 15, in order to allow community members to hear a summery of the facilities taskforce study, and discuss proposed options for renovations at the middle and high schools. Participants will also have the opportunity to tour the schools and ask questions or make comments.

The forums are scheduled to take place at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Clinton High School on Oct. 14, and the sessions on Oct. 15 will be held at Lyons Middle School at 5:30 p.m. and at Washington Middle School at 7 p.m.

Basden noted that the taskforce members, along with the members of the Clinton School Board, have worked hard toward improving the district’s facilities and should be proud of the work done so far.

“You’ve shown good faith,” Basden said. “You’ve been good stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars.”