Millard Public Schools, Nebraska, Bond Issue (May 2020)
| Millard Public Schools Bond Issue | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date May 12, 2020 | |
| Topic Local school bonds | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Referral | Origin Lawmakers |
A bond issue was on the ballot for Millard Public Schools voters in Douglas County, Nebraska, on May 12, 2020.[1] It was approved.
A "yes" vote supported authorizing the district to issue $125 million in bonds for capital improvements and impose a 1% property tax to repay the bonds at a total rate of $140 per $100,000 of assessed property value. |
A "no" vote opposed authorizing the district to issue $125 million in bonds for capital improvements and impose a 1% property tax to repay the bonds at a total rate of $140 per $100,000 of assessed property value. |
A simple majority vote was required for the approval of the bond measure.
For the 2019-2020 academic year, the total amount in property taxes levied by the district was $1,226 per $100,000 of assessed property value. The total levy was distributed as follows:[2]
- $1,046 for the General Fund,
- $130 for outstanding bonds, and
- $50 for buildings.
The proposed bonds increased the total to $1,236 per $100,000 of assessed property value.[3]
Election results
|
Millard Public Schools, Nebraska, Bond Issue (May 2020) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
16,650 | 59.08% | ||
| No | 11,530 | 40.92% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[1]
| “ |
Shall Douglas County School District 0017 in the State of Nebraska (a/k/a Millard Public Schools) issue the Bonds of said District in the principal amount of not to exceed One Hundred Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($125,000,000) for the purpose of paying the costs of: facility security improvements and related technology; constructing capital improvements and additions to and/or making repairs and renovations of existing district buildings and facilities; constructing, acquiring and installing parking, and other site improvements for such buildings, facilities, and additions; and providing the necessary furnishings, equipment and apparatus for such buildings, facilities and additions, such bonds to be issued from time to time, to be sold at such price or prices, to bear interest at such rate or rates, to become due at such time or times and to have such other terms and provisions, all as may be fixed and determined by the Board of Education of the District; and Shall the District cause to be levied and collected annually a special levy of taxes against all the taxable property in the District sufficient in rate and amount to pay the interest, principal and premium on said Bonds as the same become due?[4] |
” |
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Vote for MPS led the campaign in support of the bond issue.[5]
Supporters
- Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom[6]
Arguments
- Doug Kagan, president of Nebraska Taxapayers for Freedom, said that after reviewing the spending plans the bond measure is "both practical and necessary."[6]
- Mike Pate, a Millar Public Schools board member, said that the bond is necessary to maintain facilities and that if the district does not take care of the facilities now it will catch up with them.[6]
Opposition
Ballotpedia did not identify committees, organizations, or individuals opposing the ballot initiative. If you are aware of any opponents or opposing arguments, please send an email with a link to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Media editorials
- See also: 2020 ballot measure media endorsements
Support
- Omaha World-Herald said: "Millard Public Schools has a reputation for high standards, capable leadership and strong public support. Millard’s $125 million school bond proposal on the May 12 ballot illustrates the district’s forward thinking and well deserves voter approval."[7]
Opposition
Ballotpedia did not identify any media editorials in opposition to the bond issue. If you are aware of one, please send an email with a link to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Background
Millard Public Schools
As of 2020, Millard Public Schools was the third-largest school district in Nebraska. In 2018, it spent $9,634 per pupil compared with the state average of $11,902. The district served 24,104 students in 36 schools in the 2018-2019 academic year. The total estimated budget for the 2019-2020 school year was $240,798,784.[8][9]
2017 budget override
In 2017, 63% of Omaha voters approved a budget override for the district's General Fund. The measure authorized the district to levy an additional $90 per $100,000 of assessed property value for five years. The new total levy limit was increased to $1,140 per $100,000 of assessed property value.[10]
Proposed bond projects
Millard Public Schools proposed the following projects to be funded by the bond:[6]
- $53.4 million on major renovations,
- $45.5 million on summer maintenance projects, and
- $9 million on safety and security.
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a unanimous vote of the Millard Public Schools Board of Education on January 20, 2020.[1]
See also
External links
Support |
OppositionSubmit links to editor@ballotpedia.org. |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Millard Public Schools, "Bond Issue," accessed April 22, 2020
- ↑ Nebraska Department of Education, "2019-2020 School District Levies," accessed April 26, 2020
- ↑ Support MPS, "About the Bond," accessed April 26, 2020
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ SupportMPS, "Home," accessed April 25, 2020
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Omaha World-Herald, "Millard Public Schools will put $125 million bond issue on May ballot," January 20, 2020
- ↑ Omaha World-Herald, "Editorial: Millard school bond proposal deserves approval," April 23, 2020
- ↑ Millard Public Schools, "2019 Annual Report," accessed April 25, 2020
- ↑ https://www.omaha.com/news/education/millard-public-schools-which-deliver-champagne-programs-on-a-beer-budget-want-tax-levy-override/article_b8cdc79f-dcf6-54ac-bd4b-78050c4a239b.html Omaha World-Herald, "Millard Public Schools, which deliver 'champagne programs on a beer budget,' want tax levy override as 'an insurance policy'," October 16, 2017]
- ↑ Voter Information, "Millard Public Schools Levy Override," accessed April 30, 2020
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