2010-2011 Budget
Land purchase proposition also on ballot
April 22, 2010
On May 18, Mohonasen voters will decide on a land purchase proposition that, if approved, would allow district officials to purchase approximately 36 acres of land adjacent to the district’s high school/middle school campus.
According to the agreement between the district and the landowners, the owners will gift $270,000 worth of the property to Mohonasen. The remainder will be purchased by the district for $1.425 million.
Although voter approval is required to complete the purchase, officials can acquire the property at no additional cost to taxpayers, thanks to the district’s capital reserve fund. This account was established with a community vote a decade ago for the purpose of buying land or funding a building project.
“We have long thought this would be an ideal property to help accommodate future growth and improvements on our campus,” Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Spring said.
“Land is scarce in our district, particularly that which is so close and well-situated to fit into future plans at the campus,” she added.
The ability to expand the campus has been a major element in the district’s long-range plan. Phase I of that plan – the $21.9 million EXCEL project approved by voters in October 2007 – addressed building infrastructure, security, safety, and energy priorities. Plans for a Phase II largely address the facilities needs that accompany plans to modernize academic programs and opportunities.
District officials are planning to put Phase II before voters in October, assuming Mohonasen is still eligible for 95 percent state building aid. If this set of improvements moves forward, the land purchase would then qualify for the same level of state aid. This means that if voters approve the land purchase, 95 percent of the money taken from the capital reserve account would come back to the district in state aid. This would then help offset the five percent local share of the Phase II improvements.
Mohonasen’s capital reserve fund currently contains $2,264,000. If voters approve the land purchase proposition on May 18, the money left in the reserve would also go toward offsetting the local share of the Phase II capital project.
“Even though we are facing tough economic times, it is still important to plan for the future of the district,” Spring said. “The fact is, as the world evolves over the years and decades, we need to be able to adapt our programs and facilities to student and community needs.”
Mohonasen voters were planning for the future when they created the capital reserve account in 2001 and we are maintaining that vision today,” she added.
Long-range planning: Phase II
The vision for Phase II of the district’s long-range plan is to modernize Mohonasen’s schools so they are designed and equipped to serve as 21st Century learning centers. This means being able to accommodate more project-based learning and advanced technology instruction and opportunities for students. In addition, district officials see a real need for a new transportation facility for a variety of reasons – safety being the biggest among them.
The 36-acre property would play a key role in any Phase II plans. It is situated appropriately to serve as the site for a modern transportation facility, with some room to spare. This would work out well, because any major expansion or renovation of the middle and high school buildings would likely affect playing fields and other open space on campus. So, the land would provide added flexibility when it comes to expanding or renovating district athletic facilities.
While officials are still finalizing the scope of the Phase II project, they are choosing to act now on the land purchase because a deal was reached with the landowners.
