FAQs ....

 What is a Bond?

  • A bond levy is a funding option to pay for construction projects for schools.  Local community members vote on a proposal to sell bonds to finance specific construction projects.
  • Bond funds can only be used for the specific projects listed in the proposal.
  • Bonds are repaid over a defined period – in this case it is 26 years – through additional property taxes.

What is the difference between general fund and bond money?

  • Schools receive general fund dollars from the Legislature based on student enrollment.  Although it is legal to spend these operating funds on construction and maintenance, there is simply not enough funding to meet student educational needs and pay for facility upgrades.
  • Bond dollars are approved by voters in the school district to pay for specific projects outlined in the ballot title.  If approved, the district would sell bonds that would be repaid by district taxpayers through property taxes.

How can each be used?

  • Bond funds have very specific uses and there are many limitations on how bond funds can be used.  Capital projects include buying land or buildings, construction, equipment and furnishings, or equipment with a useful life of at least one year.
  • Bond fund money may not be used to hire staff.

How much is it going to cost me?

  • Currently you are paying about $2.00 per thousand of assessed value on your home.
  • You will be voting on the new $10.5 million bond.
  • Thus, the increased cost per thousand for the first 6 years of this bond will not exceed $ .54 per thousand of assessed value.
  • Your total bond amount until 2017, for current Elementary Bond, with this bond is expected to not exceed $2.54 per $1000 of assessed value or approximately $254 per year for each $100,000 of assessed property value.
  • In 2018 the total yearly property tax is expected to drop and estimated not to exceed $1.72 per $1000 assessed value or approximately $172 per year for $100,000 of assessed property value, over the life of this bond.

What about the “Barn”?

  • Currently, the proposal would keep this gym.

Are they going to fix the Junior High School?

  • The plan is to remove the old classroom areas that do not meet seismic standards and replace them with a new two-story structure.

Why do we need a new facility?

  • In a few words, we need to address safety issues.
  • The first Facilities Planning Committee was formed in 2006 and the goal was to research the state of the district facilities and identify a set of planning considerations for the board.  This committee identified the need to replace some buildings, acquire additional land and develop partnerships within the community to enhance and better utilize the district’s facilities by both students and the Banks community.
  • In 2007, the school board resolved to create a 2nd FPC in an effort to provide a long range facilities plan which was to include identification of deferred maintenance needs, modernization needs and expansion needs due to anticipated enrollment growth.  Engineers conducted complete professional evaluations in order to evaluate the current structural, electrical and mechanical systems.  The final report summarized the results.
  • In November 2008, a bond was put to the voters that failed by a narrow margin.
  • In the fall of 2009 FPC3 was formed.  The purpose, once again, was to address the needs of the district with regards to our facilities.
  • Our junior high and senior high school continue to age.  Due to limited funding we are unable to keep up with the deterioration of the buildings.
  • Both of these schools were built in phases and parts of each building are between 60 and 90 years old, thus it is increasingly difficult to get replacement parts for our infrastructure.
  • It is time for the Banks community to make some decisions about the quality and safety of these facilities, which will have a direct impact on the education we are able to offer our students in the years ahead.
  • We have looked for ways to retain the parts of the existing buildings that is cost effective to save and use – now and in the future.

What about Athletic Facilities?

  • This bond includes money to renovate inadequate locker rooms and replace unsafe bleachers in the existing high school gym.

What about the District Office?

  • The original brick building that served as the high school and is now serving as the district office is currently scheduled to remain.

How many classrooms will we have?

  • At the Junior High, we will replace nine existing regular classrooms with 10 new classrooms; add classrooms designed for science (2), computer technology (1) and special education (1) as well as renovate and enlarge the locker rooms.
  • We will also replace the library, administration area, staff area and make other building/campus improvements.
  • At the High School, renovate a regular classroom into a science lab.

How can we build new facilities while we are laying off teachers and cutting programs?

  • Remember, bond money and general fund money come from two different sources.
  • General fund money, which comes from the state, is used to pay for daily operations of the schools.
  • This money “pays our bills” including utilities, transportation, food service, maintenance and janitorial expenditures as well as all of our staffing.
  • Each biennium the state determines how much money the schools will receive, which is based on student enrollment.  This is the money on which we build our operating budget.  When the state short funds us, we are forced to cut programs and/or personnel.

How will a one-year construction schedule impact students?

  • A one-year schedule is the best alternative to minimize disruption to the students, staff, and community.
  • The actual plans for where the students will attend class for that year are dependent on the results of the master plan.
  • Students will remain in existing classrooms or be temporarily located in portable classrooms with student safety the top consideration.

Why should I vote for this bond if I do not have kids or grandkids attending Banks School District?

  • As adults, it is our responsibility to educate children for our future social and economic health.
  • It is proven that good schools increase property value and reduce crime.
  • More efficient facilities will reduce operational costs.
  • More money will be left in the general fund to be spent on educating our students.

THE ASSESSED VALUE (NOT Market Value), OF MY HOME IS $250,000.  WHAT WOULD BE THE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX COST PER YEAR, PER MONTH, PER DAY FOR THIS BOND FOR THE FIRST 6 YEARS?

(The increased cost per will be approximately $ .54 per thousand of   assessed value.)

  • Approximately $135.00 per year
  • Approximately $ 11.25 per month
  • Approximately $    .37 per day

(See “How Much is it Going to Cost Me”  to complete financial information.)
Note:  This is based on a proposed bond structure that the BSB hasn’t approved yet.

When is the election?

  • May 17, 2011.  Ballots will be mailed beginning April 29, 2011.

When is the last day to register to vote?

  • April 26, 2011 is the last day to register to vote for this election.

      Must be postmarked or received online by 11:59pm.

  • Registration cards that are postmarked by this date are valid registrations for this election.
  • You can also register on-line at www.oregonvotes.org or

      call 1-800-ORE VOTES/673-8683

Why vote “YES” on BOND MEASURE #34-187?

  • So we will have “safe school for our students!”