School districts asking for tax extension to 2027

Dora, Portales, Elida, Grady and Melrose school districts are asking the voters to approve a $2 million capital improvements tax to extend to 2027 in the Nov. 2 election.

Portales Public Schools Superintendent Johnnie Cain said this tax is $2 per $1,000 of assessed value and is a continuation of an existing tax. If passed the district would use the money to pay for maintenance of the grounds, a new water heater and air conditioner as well as new equipment to do maintenance.

“It’s one of the more important tax levies we need; if we did not have it in place, we would have to use monies from the operations of the school,” Cain said. “People have always been good to us in this district keeping this tax in place and I am confident it will pass.”

Dora Consolidated Schools Superintendent Brandon Hays said they are also asking the voters to approve a $3.5 million General Obligation Bond, which is new.

If the voters approve the taxes, the district would install a new HVAC system for about $1 million.

“Our roof has about four years left on it,” Hays said. The plan, Hays said, is to put a coating on the roof to extend it for another 20 years.

The parking lot and main driveway up to the school needs to be re-sloped with new drainage and pavement, he said.

“The bond will not raise the tax rate at all because the Xcel Wind Farm in our district has increased our taxable property values,” he said.

Melrose Municipal Schools Superintendent Brian Stacy said they are also asking the voters to approve a $600,000 General Obligation Bond, which if passed, would pay for new infrastructure at the school district.

They would use the money to replace the old HVAC and plumbing at the schools, Stacy said. Both the bond and the capital improvement tax are recurring taxes.

If the taxes pass, the district would use the money to replace the plumbing at the high school and upgrade the fire alarm system, he said.

“The voters have always passed it — I am hoping the voters will appreciate how we make good stewards of our properties and maintain our campuses,” he said.

Superintendent of Grady Municipal Schools Elnabeth Grau said in an email: “The question on the upcoming ballot for Grady is the Public School Capital Improvements ($2.00 Mill). A mill levy is the number of dollars in taxes that a property owner must pay for every $1,000 of assessed value.

“The Public School Capital Improvements Levy (currently existing for Grady) passed in 2010 and 2016. This Mill Levy is for the purpose of providing building maintenance for the existing facilities and making various school capital improvements. Voters need to renew and approve the mill levies every 6 years for the continued maintenance of the existing facilities.”

The tax would extend to 2027, Grau said.

She said this would be $2 per $1,000 of assessed value on all property within the district including homes, land, and commercial.

Superintendent of Municipal Schools in Texico Robert Brown said it has a $2 million General Obligation Bond they are asking the voters to approve.

If the bond passes, they will use the money, he said, on a number of projects they are considering such as replacing the elementary school roof, installing restrooms at the baseball field, building a concession stand and a press box. They want to make technology upgrades to improve the video security system and a new HVAC in the Wolverine Gym. Water conservation projects such as xeriscaping and installation of the field turf are also in the plans.

“This is a continuation so the tax rate would remain the same,” he said.

“We believe in this community (and that it) will continue to support us so we can maintain and upgrade the facility,” Brown said.

Elida Municipal School Superintendent Tandee Delk said the capital improvements tax is a continuation and “will not increase taxes.”

If the tax passes, the district would use the money “to improve and maintain the school grounds, upkeep our buildings with remodeling and furnishings, computer software and technology infrastructure,” Delk said.

“I believe if the voters know about this and they realize the taxes will not increase and that we are trying to improve the district grounds, buildings and facilities,” they will approve the tax, she said.