Rockwood Board of Education Votes Unanimously to Place Prop 3 on November Ballot

The Rockwood School District Board of Education has voted 6-0 to place a proposition on the Nov. 7, 2023, ballot for a no-tax-increase levy transfer to establish a dedicated annual funding source for safety, technology and facilities (one board member was not present at the meeting to vote). 

This funding source would eliminate the need to borrow funds and pay interest on safety items, scheduled technology upgrades and facility upkeep, ultimately saving taxpayer dollars. Proposition 3 would essentially result in a transfer of funds by increasing the operating tax levy by $0.54 over two years and simultaneously reducing the debt service levy by the same amount, resulting in a zero-tax-rate increase.

If approved, Prop 3 would be phased in over a two-year period, and the resulting operating funds would amount to approximately $26-27 million annually when fully phased in. The funds could only be used for safety, technology and facility maintenance and improvements. District staff have prioritized needs at schools across the district, and that list includes security cameras, radios, student devices, cybersecurity measures, HVAC, roofing, athletic fields and playgrounds as well as items such as chair lifts and elevators to increase accessibility for all students. Funds from Proposition 3 cannot be used for daily operating expenses such as salaries, utilities and supplies.

“Our maintenance and refresh needs are not adequately funded by current resources,” shared Chief Financial Officer Cyndee Byous while addressing the Board on August 17. 

In fact, Byous shared that the funds from the last bond issue, Prop T in 2017, were depleted through projects completed this summer. 

“This transfer has been part of our long-term strategic financial plan for years,” shared Byous. “The Debt Service Levy Transition Plan was first discussed in 2014, developed in 2016 and embedded in the district's strategic plan in 2018. We understand that spacious, well-maintained schools with updated technology are necessary to equip students with the tools for success, and this is a common-sense, responsible way to address those annual needs without incurring interest costs, particularly at today’s interest rates.”

A similar ballot initiative, Proposition P, failed to pass last year when 50.88 percent of district patrons opposed the measure. In a post-election survey conducted by the district, residents indicated they didn’t have enough information about the proposition to support it.

According to Byous, the district needs $30-35 million each year to keep pace with safety, technology and facility needs and the average age of a Rockwood school is 47 years old. She used an analogy to explain why a levy transfer is more responsible than issuing bonds to address those needs. 

“You wouldn’t take out a mortgage to replace your roof or carpeting in your home,” Byous said. “This is more like moving money from a savings account to a checking account rather than taking out a loan. The interest savings can be used toward the necessary materials and projects.”

Proposition 3 will require a simple majority to pass.

Here is the complete language that will appear on the Nov. 7, 2023, ballot: