School-tax issue goes to voters.

Junction City district seeks millage rise for new facilities

JUNCTION CITY — Voters in the Junction City School District will begin voting Tuesday on a proposed 5.9-mill school property tax increase to fund construction of a new gymnasium/multipurpose facility and special programs building.

The projected cost of the gym is $4,590,000, and the estimated cost of the special programs building is $360,000, said Superintendent Robby Lowe. He said if funds are available, the district will then replace the football visitors’ bleachers with a 750-seat, aluminum, handicapped-accessible bleacher system and a concrete walkway. Other improvements and upgrades will be completed in the district as funds become available, he said.

The gym was built in 1954, and the building that now houses special education programs — such as speech, occupational and physical therapy — was built in 1914.

The early-voting period will be 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. weekdays from Tuesday through Feb. 9 at the Union County clerk’s office on the first floor of the Union County Courthouse. The special election is Feb. 10.

If voters approve the increase, the school millage would go from 35 mills to 40.9 mills. The total proposed school tax levy of 40.9 mills is made up of 25 mills specifically voted for general maintenance and operation, 10 mills for debt service previously voted as a continuing levy pledged for the retirement of the existing bonded indebtedness, and 5.9 in new debt-service mills.

School millage rates for other districts in Union County include Smackover-Norphlet, 41 mills; Strong-Huttig, 39 mills; El Dorado, 33.5 mills; and Parkers Chapel, 32.8 mills.

One mill generates approximately $55,600 annually for the district, Lowe said.

Lowe said voters last approved a school millage increase in 2004, when they supported an initiative to build a $1.5 million junior high school and a multipurpose facility.

Officials are asking voters to approve the millage increase to refund the 2004 bond and consolidate the debt into one bond, creating a total of $8,055,000, with $5.7 million in new debt. The bond will retire in 30 years. The district is asking voters to consider extending the 10 existing debt mills through 2045, which is seven years beyond the current commitment.

According to a public notice, the bond will be “issued for the purposes of refunding the district’s outstanding bonds dated April 1, 2012; constructing and equipping a new multipurpose facility/ gym and specialty programs facility; and constructing, refurbishing, remodeling and equipping other school facilities.”

Blake Dunn, architect for the project with CADM Architecture, has completed preliminary drawings for the projects. Lowe said that if voters approve the proposal, Dunn will create a final design and the plans will be sent to the Arkansas Department of Education for approval.

District officials should receive notice from the state probably around mid-June if the plans are approved. Bids would be let in July, Lowe said.

The proposed gymnasium would be built parallel to the football field and would be “partially inside the football fence,” so new restrooms and a concession stand inside the new gym could be used during football and basketball seasons.

Plans for the new gym/ multipurpose facility, which would be designed with a 1,200-seat arena, include a cheerleader practice facility room, which would also be used as a hospitality area during basketball tournaments.

The current gymnasium is not air-conditioned, and Lowe said that if the millage proposal is approved, residents can look forward to graduations, basketball games, assemblies and other events in the new air-conditioned facility.

The new special programs building would house the special education office, a modern nurse’s station, a speech therapy room, an occupational therapy room, a technical support office, a special programs office and a conference room.