by Dennis Sharkey
Landmark reporter

North Platte R-1 School Board members have passed a resolution they hope will help push a $6 million bond issue through when voters head to the polls next Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Superintendent Dr. Jeff Sumy said board members have pledged to roll back taxes next year if the bond passes.

Sumy said he met with representatives of the district's bonding company to determine if the district could pay off the high school early. Sumy said if the district paid off the high school, $.60 of the $.99 of the tax levy increase that is needed for this bond issue could be rolled back. That would put the district's Fund 1 levy rate at $4.39 instead of the $4.98 projected.

Sumy said if the bond passes, the high school could be paid off next September.

Sumy said the biggest question on voters’ minds is where the money will be spent. Sumy said the number one priority of the board is to replace the existing intermediate school in Edgerton with a brand new building. Any funds left over would go to other projects in the district.

Architects are currently working on a master plan for the district that would prioritize those projects. A preliminary master plan has been completed and will be reviewed at a work session before next month's regular meeting.

Sumy said he is confident the bond issue will pass next Tuesday without voters getting a glimpse of what a master plan will look like. He said he doesn't think it will matter because the plan is such a fluid document.

“It is going to help guide us in the future,” he said. “After next Tuesday, we hope the future is now.”

Sumy said the district's steering committee has been working diligently the last couple of weeks educating voters about the potential rollback if a bond were to pass.

On the district's Web site, board president Tim Nash said lower construction costs also make this a viable time to build new.

“Current low interest rates on the interest bearing portion of the bonds as well as heightened competitiveness in the construction market will allow the district to complete the projects at the most cost effective rate for the taxpayers of the North Platte County R-I School District,” Nash said.

Polls in North Platte will be open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. next Tuesday. The measure needs four-sevenths (57 percent) approval for passage.