Nixon-Smiley CISD asking voters to consider $37.9 million bond issue

Nixon-Smiley Consolidated ISD is asking voters to adopt five bond packages worth a total $37,928,850 during the May 6 election.

Where to vote

Early voting for this bond issue begins this Monday, April 24, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Nixon Aphne Pattillo Public Library, 401 N Nixon Ave., and continues through Friday, April 28 and then again on May 1-2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Election day voting will be held in three locations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 6: at the Nixon Public Library; at Smiley Volunteer Fire Department, 208 N FM 108; and the Leesville Cemetery Association, 6077 CR 155, Leesville.

Bond issue background

The Nixon-Smiley CISD Board of Trustees approve the bond package proposal at their Feb. 13 meeting and agreed to split it into five parts, all of which officials say will not require any increase to the district tax rate due to anticipated property valuations, which are expected to support the issue.

“There are several factors that would allow us to pass a $37.9 million bond without raising the tax rate,” said Nixon-Smiley Superintendent Jeff VanAuken. “First, for the past three years, the district has engaged in the early repayment of outstanding bonds in preparation for this bond election. In 2020, the district refinanced two of its outstanding bonds at lower interest rates, locking in long-term savings. This year, the district will again redeem outstanding bonds prior to their maturity, further reducing the long-term burden on taxpayers.

“Secondly, there are two solar farms being constructed within the district that will add a considerable amount of property value to the tax base. Finally, the state is compressing the M&O tax rate. When the state compresses the M&O rate, those pennies can be moved to the I&S side which would result in increased revenue being produced on the I&S side. These three factors play the largest role in allowing the district to go out for a $37.9 million bond without increasing the tax rate.”

The individual property taxes paid by property owners could vary based upon the value of the property and whether it increases or decreases in valuation. If the property valuation increases, a property owner could pay more in taxes even though the property tax rate would remain the same.

At this time, the district has outstanding debt of $14,912,227.80, of which $10,092,000 is outstanding principal and $4,820,227.80 is interest. The district’s current debt service tax rate is $0.2854 per $100 valuation.

VanAuken said the district “will only sell bonds in an amount which can be supported by property values.”

He explained why the district will not consider using its fund balance to fund the sought improvements.

“Current fund balance helps fund personnel through interest,” VanAuken said. “It also supplants some budgetary needs so the district can continue to have one of the highest teacher compensation packages in the area. The supplanting of budgetary needs also allows us to keep our class sizes small by having a higher number of teachers in the district.”

The reason to break down the bond issue into five propositions was to “enhance the transparency of the bond election and to allow the voters to have a better understanding of what was included in the bond.”

“Legally, the bond had to have at least two propositions due to the addressing of the football stadium, which seats over 1,000 fans,” VanAuken said. “The board broke the bond into five propositions for transparency only; it would like see all five propositions pass!”

The bond proposals are based upon the recommendation of a long-range planning committee’s strategic facilities plan review.

Proposition breakdown

Proposition A calls for issuing $20,839,150 in bonds, which would be used to build a Transportation and Maintenance Building at the district’s 10^th Street property as well as remodeling of the 600 Building on the high school campus. It would also pay for safety upgrades across the district, roof replacements, parking improvements, new school buses and technology upgrades.

Proposition B calls for issuing $7,886,700 in bonds, which would be used to build a new Career Technical Education facility and Agriculture and Animal Science facility for students as Nixon-Smiley CISD continues to expand its offerings.

Proposition C calls for issuing $4,555,150 in bonds for upgrades to the baseball and softball stadiums and to the high school weight room.

Proposition D calls for issuing $2,779,100 in bonds, and would be used to build a new Mustang Stadium football field concession stand and restroom facility, the addition of a press box as well as upgrades to the ticketing booths and a repair and resurfacing of the track.

Finally, Proposition E calls for issuing $1,868,750 in bonds, to be used to replace the grass football field at Mustang Stadium with synthetic turf.

“We agree that our football field’s grass surface is one of the best in the area. Our coaching staff has done a tremendous job maintaining this field over the years,” VanAuken said. “However, in order to keep this facility to this standard, we basically limit ourselves to 14 events that take place on this field during the course of the year. We have 12 football dates, a track meet, and graduation. We have actually canceled sub-varsity games during inclement weather in order to protect the field.

“A large amount of time, effort, and money is spent on maintaining this field for such a limited number of events. During the season, the coaching staff spends an average of 8-10 hours a week just keeping the field striped. Throughout the year, the district spends a large amount of money watering and fertilizing the field. The coaches spend many, many hours mowing, fertilizing, and maintaining the field.

“With the addition of synthetic turf, many of the hours spent to maintain the field would be greatly reduced,” VanAuken added. “Synthetic turf would allow the field to become more multi-purpose which would benefit more of our student body. Football practices could be held on the field, band could practice on the field, and athletics could use the field on a regular basis during the athletic period. Having synthetic turf would also open up more possibilities of hosting playoff games in the future.”