Voters in the Colonial School District will have their say on a tax referendum Tuesday.
The Colonial School District is seeking a tax hike of 39.4 cents per $100 of a home's assessed value. The increase would be phased in over two years.
In year one, 28.4 cents per $100 assessed value would be added to residents’ tax bill – with 27 cents going toward operating expenses and 1.4 cents toward capital spending. An additional 11 cents would be tacked on in year two earmarked for operating costs.
The funds added to the operating budget would allow the district to maintain its current staffing levels and upgrade technology at schools. It would also allow Colonial to expand its preschool program and build its elementary school wellness program, while continuing its middle school redesign that focuses on specialized themes at each middle school
The new capital budget funds would go toward installing secured entrances in all district schools over the next 3 years. Currently, only two of 14 schools have secured entrances.
The Colonial School District last asked for a tax increase in 2013. It took two attempts to pass that proposal.
Polls in the district are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Any district resident 18 or older can vote. You can find a list of polling places here.
