2022 Referendum Information

Referendum 2022 results: Community supports continued investment in schools 

 

TRACY, MN – August 9, 2022 

 

On Tuesday, August 9, 2022, voters in the Tracy Area Public School District approved a single-question bond referendum in the amount of $7,565,000. Following the vote, the unofficial election results are: 572 YES (67%) and 277 NO (33%).

 

“I am very pleased with the number of community members that turned out to vote and support Tracy Area Public Schools. TAPS is the hub of our close-knit community and the support by the voters solidifies the importance our community places on our schools,” shared TAPS Superintendent Chad Anderson. 

 

Approval of the referendum question allows the district to focus on the replacement and upgrading of building systems needed to support a safe and efficient educational environment for students and staff.

 

Anderson continued, “We will now be able to invest the time and resources into our facilities to ensure we continue to provide a safe and healthy place for our students to learn. Thank you to all the community members who voted!”

 

Next steps include continued engineering work and bid specifications with project partner SitelogIQ through the fall. 

 

The district will continue to keep the community informed on the progress of the current and future building projects.

 

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Tracy Area Public Schools will hold a special election on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 seeking voter approval of one ballot question to authorize general obligation bonds not to exceed $7,565,000 for facility improvements.

 

BALLOT QUESTION

The school board of Independent School District No. 2904 (Tracy Area Public Schools) has proposed a project for the betterment of school sites and facilities, including heating and ventilation upgrades, roof replacement, the construction and installation of fire suppression systems, and the completion of deferred maintenance projects at school sites and facilities. To provide funds for the project costs, the school board has proposed to issue general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $7,565,000. The school board has also proposed to revoke its existing capital project levy authorization of 0.9180% times the net tax capacity of the school district, commencing with taxes payable 2023.

 

Shall the issuance of the general obligation school building bonds and the revocation of the capital project levy authorization proposed by the school board of Independent School District No. 2904 be approved?

 

HOW WE GOT HERE

The Tracy Area Public School Board, along with the District’s administration and facilities team, reviewed all of the findings from a comprehensive facility assessment and prioritized all of the identified needs during a series of several workshops.

 

The bond project is primarily focused on replacement and upgrading of the building systems and takes fiscal advantage of being completed with other already scheduled infrastructure projects.

 

PROJECT SCOPE

 

HIGH SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

   • Upgrade the main electrical service and distribution systems in order to meet power requirements of new ventilation equipment and classroom technology needs and meet current electric codes.
   • Replace domestic hot water heater and piping to address aging equipment and improve energy efficiency.
   • Replace sewer piping to address aging and failing infrastructure.

 

HIGH SCHOOL

   • Industrial tech heating and ventilation improvements, including replacing original equipment from 1968.

 

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

   • Add additional electrical outlets to meet technology needs.
   • Replacement of three roof sections at the elementary school that are nearing the end of their useful life.
   • Replace the elementary school chiller that is at the end of its useful life.

 

KID’S WORLD - EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

   • Replace exterior metal panels to address moisture issues and protect building infrastructure.

 

OUR FOCUS

 

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

   • Like our homes, routine replacement and upgrading of building systems and infrastructure helps protect our investment.  Our buildings are over 50 years old and still have original systems that need replacing or upgrading.  Costs are always higher when there are system failures needing emergency replacement.  Some of the proposed upgrades also provide energy efficiency which reduces building operating costs and frees money for student and staff needs.  Responsible planning allows this work to be completed with the highest value and return on investment.

HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS

   • Although most of this work is behind walls and above ceilings, it does have a direct impact on our students and staff.  Advances in technology and improved air quality can result in students and staff being more present physically and emotionally helping reduce absenteeism.  Replacing original HVAC equipment will provide fresh air circulation, filtering and temperature control we currently struggle with.  Electrical distribution and upgrades will better allow technology and equipment to be used in our classrooms that didn’t exist when the buildings were designed.

PROJECT EFFICIENCIES

   • The State of MN authorizes school boards to complete certain infrastructure projects without a referendum to address critical needs, referred to as Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) projects.  The School Board has elected to use this authorization to address HVAC and building systems concerns in our schools.  With contractors already on site and project areas already accessible (walls and ceilings opened up), the Board recognized that there was an opportunity to efficiently address additional critical projects at a lesser overall cost by placing this referendum on the ballot at this time.

 

DID YOU KNOW?

 

AG2SCHOOL TAX CREDIT

   • This tax credit reduces the burden for agricultural property owners on existing and future school bonds.
   • Ag2School is a 70% automatic tax credit on agricultural homestead property tax bills payable in 2023 and beyond.
   • The Ag2School credit will result in the State of MN paying a total of approximately 48% of project costs being undertaken (both referendum and Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM)), or approximately $12.5 million of the $26,115,000 LTFM and referendum bond amount through the Ag2School Tax Credit.  This reduces the tax impact to the district’s agricultural property owners.

AGE OF OUR BUILDINGS

   • Our High School was built in 1968 and is 53 years old.
   • Our Elementary School was built in 1969 and is 52 years old.
   • Much of the equipment and building systems (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) being addressed in the referendum and LTFM are over 50 years old, original to the building, and have outlived their useful life.

 

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ATTEND OUR OPEN HOUSE INFORMATIONAL MEETING TO LEARN MORE!

 

REFERENDUM OPEN HOUSE

Monday, August 1

5:30 - 8pm

at the High School - Door #1

 

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LEARN MORE

 

CONTACT

Chad Anderson, Superintendent

andersonc@tracy.k12.mn.us

507-629-5500

 

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