It’s been 25 years since Gainesville R-V School District voters approved a levy increase, and now a new increase has been proposed. District superintendent Jeffrey Hyatt is doing everything he can to show voters how badly the levy increase is needed. He and the school board will host an informal information session at Monday evening at 7:00 in the high school library.
The district is asking voters to approve a 75-cent levy increase in the upcoming August 7th primary election. The increase would bring the school levy to $3.50 per $100 assessed property evaluation, meaning owners of houses assessed at $50,000 to $100,000 would pay about $73 to $143 more per year in school taxes. At $3.50, the new Gainesville levy would still be one of the lowest in the county. By comparison, Dora’s total school levy, including debt service, stands at $3.61.
Among other things, the increased operating levy would allow the Gainesville district to make safety and security improvements throughout both schools, including new high-security classroom doors. At the elementary school, the levy increase would replace the current 25-year-old heating-and-cooling system and create a 3,500-square-foot addition to serve as a storm shelter. It would also pay for roof repairs on the high school and replace failing floor tiles, ceiling tiles and lockers in the middle and high schools. A portion of the levee would also be dedicated in attracting new and qualified staff.
If the levy increase is approved, the district hopes to use the funds as efficiently as possible, and if enough money is leftover when renovations and repairs are completed, a new high school gym will be considered.
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