Alva Review-Courier -

Next Tuesday, Sept. 14, Freedom school district voters will go to the polls to determine whether to approve a $350,000 school bond to make crucial repairs and upgrades to the school.

After the last school bond election failed to pass, the school board and consultants pared down their requests to only the most essential.

Among the most important of these is the old gym floor, which is no longer repairable. It has deteriorated to such an extent that it is a safety issue and must be replaced.

Another major upgrade would replace the old single-pane windows with energy efficient windows. Those old windows were installed all the way back in 1958. This move will save the district money in the long run.

The bond would also improve the gym's Americans with Disabilities accessibility, a major legal issue that affects the school's ability to host events and tournaments.

The total cost of the bond is $350,000.

The Stephen L. Smith Corp. provided an analysis of the impact of the school bond to Freedom taxpayers. For a Freedom resident whose property tax is $500 a year, that cost would only increase by about $20 a year.

Cost to the Taxpayer

Previous Tax Amount 1st Year Tax Amount Annual Increase Monthly Increase

$25.00 $26.03 $1.03 $0.09

$50.00 $52.06 $2.06 $0.17

$75.00 $78.09 $3.09 $0.26

$100.00 $104.12 $4.12 $0.34

$200.00 $208.24 $8.24 $0.69

$300.00 $312.36 $12.36 $1.03

$400.00 $416.48 $16.48 $1.37

$500.00 $520.60 $20.60 $1.72

$600.00 $624.72 $24.72 $2.06

$700.00 $728.84 $28.84 $2.40

$800.00 $832.96 $32.96 $2.75

$900.00 $937.08 $37.08 $3.09

$1,000.00 $1,041.20 $41.20 $3.43

Source: Stephen L. Smith Corp.