District 301 seeks voter approval to borrow $22 million

Voters in Central Unit District 301 will decide Nov. 8 whether to approve a $22 million bond request for building 12 additional classrooms and a field house at Burlington-Central High School to accommodate enrollment growth.

"Just this school year alone we have grown by over 200 students within the district," Superintendent Todd Stirn said. "Much of the growth is occurring in the West Elgin corridor. Our most growth is in the early grades up to grade six."

The district has 4,014 students enrolled. Officials anticipate adding roughly 340 kindergartners in each of the next four years based on birthrates.

Burlington Central High School, which has 1,051 students enrolled this year, is expected to surpass its 1,100-student capacity with 1,158 students in the 2018-19 school year and reach 1,214 students by 2019-20, based on current enrollment at the middle schools.

District 301's tax rate - currently levied at $7.66 per $100 of equalized assessed value - is expected to decrease with the spring tax bill in 2018 to $6.71 without issuing new bonds, or $6.96 if voters approve the request, officials said.

"We've tried to delay any type of referendum or construction to give an opportunity for the tax rate to decrease," Stirn said. "This is a fiscally responsible way to provide expansion and also provide tax rate relief. We believe this build-out will give us approximately 15 years of growth.

In 2006, the district borrowed more than $40 million for the construction of Prairie Knolls Middle School, Country Trails Elementary School and an addition at Burlington Central. The tax rate relief is due to a reduction in those bond payments.

"This year is a $9 million bond payment. Next year, the bond payment will drop down to $5 million," Stirn said.

The district's portion of the property tax bill for the owner of a $300,000 home would amount to $6,542, if the request is approved. Without voter approval of the bonds the bill would be $6,307 - a difference of $235.

Stirn said the new loan would be repaid over 20 years at $1.6 million in yearly principal and interest payments. He said now is the time to borrow with interest rates at their lowest - 3.36 percent.

"They will most likely increase following the (presidential) election," Stirn said, adding that construction costs also typically increase roughly 5 percent each year.

The first phase of construction involves expansion of the high school's music room to accommodate 150 band students. That work has begun and is expected to be completed by August 2017. The $5.6 million cost is being paid for through existing funds, Stirn said.

The second phase would involve construction of the 12-classroom addition, and a fully equipped field house estimated to cost roughly $9 million.

"We currently have one gym that was built to accommodate about 500 students," Stirn said. "It's impossible to have physical education for over 1,000 students in one gym."

If the request is rejected, officials will have to consider adding six mobile classrooms at the high school - a $90,000 yearly lease expense. If approved, the bonds would be issued by year end so construction of the high school addition can begin in the spring with anticipated completion in August 2018.

For more information about the referendum, visit voteyes301.com.