Administrators with the Blaine County School District contend that spending voter-approved construction funds earlier rather than later will save taxpayer money, but a member of an organization that is sometimes critical of district polices claims that's not the case.
"The quicker they spend the money, the quicker they'll have to pay maintenance costs, and some of that will cut into money spent in the classroom," said Elizabeth Schwerdtle, a member of a group called Blaine County Education Partnership. "I think what is lacking is a priority of education, and that's what's showing here. If the district would treat the education agenda with the same sense of urgency that they treat the building agenda, then we would truly have a model school system."
The school district has proposed borrowing on money from a $59.8 million, 10-year plant facilities levy approved by the electorate in October. The first step in the process is a public hearing set for Wednesday, Jan. 13.
Following the public hearing, the district board of trustees will have to decide whether to proceed with judicial confirmation, a process legally required to borrow on the levy funds.
"I think it's really important to let the public weigh in," said Trustee Paul Bates. "I'm talking to the public a lot right now and at this point I'm hearing as much good as bad. I see a lot of positives in it, and I see a lot of concerns."
Bates said he's reserving judgment on the proposal until after the public hearing.
"We are elected by the public and we are their representatives," Bates said. "I don't really want to make a decision until I've got everything in my quiver that I can."
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If the proposal is approved by the school board, and if the district gets the green light in 5th District Court, administrators intend to start borrowing on levy funds as early as this spring through the sale of certificates of participation.
District Business Manager Mike Chatterton said government incentives are available to investors that could lead to little or no interest required for repayment of the certificates.
"The investors are getting tax credits by purchasing those debt instruments," Chatterton said.
He said the three immediate priorities for levy funds are development of geothermal resources for heating district school buildings and getting started on construction of a new storage and maintenance facility and a cafeteria for Bellevue Elementary School.
"If we can do that without having to pay interest costs, why wouldn't we do that?" Chatterton said. "My responsibility is to get the best deal we can for the taxpayers' money. If we can lock in these prices now, we're going to be much better off than if we put this off a few years."
Chatterton said funding construction now would also benefit the local economy, since district officials have committed to spending locally as much as possible.
"I'd be very surprised if we don't have quite a few contractors here," he said, referring to Wednesday's public hearing.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Levy spending
The Blaine County School District will take public comment on a proposal for borrowing on funds to be raised from a recently approved $59.8 million plant facilities levy. A public hearing on the issue is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, at the district office at 118 W. Bullion St. in Hailey.
Elizabeth Schwerdtle
