Chad Phillips
Several Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. candidates posed questions to current school board members and BCSC officials about approving bonds for facility projects on Monday.
BCSC’s board approved a 2022 General Obligation (GO) bond additional appropriation resolution and 2022 bond final resolution on Monday.
The board previously voted on Sept. 12 to issue up to $5.8 million in GO bonds to help fund renovations at Parkside Elementary School, HVAC work at Schmitt Elementary School, and athletic improvement projects for Columbus East and North high schools.
Assistant Superintendent of Finance Chad Phillips explained that while the board voted to issue the bonds, they still needed to approve spending the bond funds, hence the need for the additional appropriation.
During a public hearing, Jason Major — who is running for the board’s District 1 seat — questioned the decision to issue bonds and pursue facilities projects during a time of high inflation.
BCSC officials have discussed inflation and its effects on these specific projects in recent months. The Parkside project was estimated, as of August, to have a price tag of $18.71 million, which is up significantly from an initial $11.9 million estimate given in summer of 2021.
Major said that during times of high inflation, it’s best to hold on to one’s cash and “not incur any additional debt unless it’s absolutely necessary.” He then questioned if all of the various project components are necessary for education.
“Do we really want to spend that money today on purchasing something that’s probably inflated in pricing to the point that we probably could have purchased two just waiting a few years in the future with the hope that inflation will come down?” he asked. “Or should we look at spending this money in a different way, towards teacher retention, bonuses for teachers, attraction bonuses for teachers, or for assisting the teachers with more school supplies?”
Phillips replied that most of BCSC’s elementary schools, including Parkside, are more than 50 years old and in need of improvements.
“The list of facility needs that we have just to keep our facilities going after 50, 60 years and keep them clean and safe and the best environment for students to learn in — there are infinitely more needs than we have funds,” he said.
Additionally, under state law, money borrowed through bonds can only be spent on equipment, technology and facilities, said Phillips. It cannot be used on personnel costs.
Another school board candidate, Eric Grow (seeking the District 4 seat), asked about the tax impact of the bonds. Phillips replied that if the bonds were not issued, the tax rate would decline. With the bonds, it is expected to stay steady around $1.01 for every $100 of assessed value.
Roy West, who is running for District 2, asked if it’s ever cheaper to build a new building than to repair the old and if the school corporation ever considers that possibility.
Phillips said the most recent case of this was at Central Middle School. The school’s current building opened in 2007.
He added that he would defer to Director of Operations Brett Boezeman and architects on the question of whether any of BCSC’s current buildings would need to be torn down rather than renovated.
“I don’t believe we’re anywhere close with the facilities that we have now,” said Phillips.
