The Knox Community School Board members will look at comments made by the Community Task Force members about possible facility upgrades and once any decision is made, they will turn to financing options.
Tom Neff from Schmidt and Associates outlined a diagram fashioned by Umbaugh and Associates that shows that a significant amount of debt will be dropping off in 2021. In 2022, when any projects could begin, it was found that a $15 million or $20 million project, such as facility upgrades, wouldn’t change the tax rate. It would not produce any raises in taxes for taxpayers in a 10-year or 20-year repayment.
Another drop occurs in 2026 where other complementary projects could be done that could maintain infrastructure at the buildings.
As far as a timeline, the school board is expected to receive criteria in order to consider options and develop a budget. If anything is decided, a 1028 Preliminary Determination hearing could happen in May of this year and the rest of the year would consist of more planning and budgets. Bids would be let in April of 2020 and construction would begin in May of 2020 with partial completion in January of 2021 and complete construction in January of 2022.
Nothing was determined following Neff’s presentation. The board will continue discussions as the Community Task Force continues with their discovery items.
