More information, please, on Everett schools bond

In February, I understand that citizens living in the Everett School District will be asked to vote on a $330 million bond issue. All i have heard so far is that this money is going for a new high school and other projects.

It also is supposed to only add a few dollars per $1,000 assessed valuation to our property taxes. I am all for providing modern facilities for students, but I would like to see The Herald provide a more comprehensive breakdown of exactly what we are getting for the money.

For example if the high school is using $220 million and it is a 220,000 squarefoot structure that is $1,000 per square foot. I am a retired architect and I understand that there are soft costs and hard costs for any project. Let’s assume the building construction itself is just $110 million, that would still be $500 a square foot, which seems pretty expensive.

I am sure that the Everett School Board did not pull these numbers out of thin air. A comprehensive breakdown of how they arrived at the $330 million figure would allow a more informed vote on this issue.

Steve Epple

Mill Creek

Editors note: More coverage regarding the Everett School District bond and levy is anticipated, but information also is availble in a Nov. 27 Herald story and on the school district website at tinyurl.com/ESDFeb13Bond.