MARYSVILLE — A major upgrade to Lakewood High School is the only ballot measure for voters in the Lakewood School District on the Feb. 11 special election.
The $66.8 million bond measure is intended to bring the 30-year-old school up to modern standards and prepare for anticipated future growth in the district.
If approved, homeowners in the district will see their total property tax increase by 51 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. For a $250,000 home, the tax bill will rise by $128 for 2015.
The bond itself is amortized over 20 years, and its share of the amount paid by property owners in the district will come to about $2.49 per $1,000 value, or $622.50 for that $250,000 home.
The district is in the second year of a four-year maintenance and operations levy. Its technology and capital projects levy expires this year, and the district decided to not seek a replacement for it, superintendent Dennis Haddock said.
Built in 1983, Lakewood High School sits on a campus between Marysville and Arlington that comprises one main building, two outbuildings and numerous portables. There are about 55 separate entrances to the school facilities, which creates a security and safety hazard.
Part of the plan for the school would be to bring most school functions under one roof, and reducing the number of the points of access to three, Haddock said.
A long list of improvements the bond is intended to fund includes:
Major improvements to safety and security, heating, plumbing and electrical systems;
Additional space for anticipated growth in the student body, plus for labs and classrooms to support classes such as video production, digital design, health and fitness and performing arts;
Improvements to traffic and parking areas; and
Replacing the existing tennis courts.
In addition, if the bond issue passes, the district expects to receive an additional $5.3 million in state matching funds. That would pay for a new auxiliary gym, stadium improvements, an all-weather track and synthetic turf for sports fields.
Ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 11 to be counted.
Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com.
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