Updated 08/28/2007 11:17:16 PM

 

BEAUMONT - A school bond proposal on the verge of being sent to Beaumont voters has dropped to $388.6 million, largely through cuts in the inflation budget with a quicker construction.

 

Trustees voiced few concerns with the plan at a Tuesday workshop and are scheduled to vote Thursday to call a November bond election.

Board President Ollis Whitaker said he was hoping and praying for unanimous board support.

"In this business, you're always going to have some questions, but you have to have some flexibility. None of us can pinpoint anything perfectly," Whitaker said. "... A unanimous vote will send a strong signal to the community."

The reduction in inflation estimates made a huge difference in the final bond amount, said David Teuscher, who with Paul Brown co-chaired the Community Bond Advisory Committee that developed recommendations for the board. The inflation estimate dropped from $92.6 million in early August to $72.8 million Tuesday.

"Everything that is in the package is necessary," Teuscher said. "Now we've got to go to the voters and say, 'Let's do what's necessary.' "

The proposed package would spend $166.7 million on elementary schools, building nine new schools to replace 14 existing ones and expanding other existing campuses. High schools would see $53.8 million in improvements with $42.8 million for middle schools.

Another $29.9 million would go toward a district-wide multi-purpose center with a stadium and natatorium. Other district facilities would get $1.9 million.

Cost savings in Tuesday's plan also came by eliminating $5 million for technology upgrades, reducing the allowance for hazardous materials remediation by $1.5 million and reducing allowances for high regional construction costs and management fees.

Superintendent Carrol Thomas said the trims still would leave enough money to accomplish everything in the plan.

"The worst thing that could happen is the community gets to expect you're going to do something and you can't do that," Thomas said after the workshop. "We were very conservative."

One potential for savings through a quicker timetable could come from using an alternative building technology, pre-cast concrete, for some projects. Teuscher and committee member Paul Jones, along with district personnel, visited Minden, La., last week to see the technology offered by Fibre Bond.

On Tuesday, they said the construction method appeared extremely high quality. Potential savings on inflation are based in the ability to build in an estimated 18 months. More money can be saved on maintenance and operations because of increased durability and energy efficiency.

Thomas said dropping the bond package below $400 million came through "a lot of sweat, tears and everything."

"There's times I had doubts we could get in there. I don't think everybody can agree on everything in there, including myself," Thomas said.

However, the package represents the consensus of a diverse community, he said.

"It's a blessing, probably nothing short of a miracle, for us to come together," Thomas said.

The proposed bond election order would ask voters to authorize up to $390 million in borrowing for school facility construction and improvements to be paid back in no more than 40 years. If the district did not need the full amount, the board could opt not to sell all the bonds.

A financial consultant for the district offered examples of how bond sales of $388.9 million could impact the district's debt tax rate.

With bond sales spread into four groupings and a 25-year repayment schedule, the tax rate would peak at 27.5 cents per $100 valuation in 2012. That would be a 22-cent increase over the current debt tax rate of 5.5 cents per $100 valuation.

With a 30-year repayment schedule, which the consultant recommended, the rate would peak at 25 cents per $100 valuation in 2011 for a 19.5-cent increase over the current rate.

The top rate could change if the district opted to sell more bonds earlier in the four-year construction timetable.

Under any of the scenarios, the district's combined tax rate, including the portion for maintenance and operations, would be lower than last year's tax rate. The maintenance and operations portion of the tax rate drops significantly this year due to changes in state education financing.