By MEG TAGGART
Hays High Guidon
Passing a bond for public schools has been a hot topic in Hays for years, but this spring, ballots for a bond issue and a sales tax will go to voters.
With the deadline to register to vote for the bond on Tuesday, April 19, it is important to know what Hays residents will be voting for on Tuesday, May 10.
The $143.5 million bond will be used to build a new high school east of the current high school, renovate the current high school to be the middle school, renovate Hays Middle School into an elementary school, renovate Wilson Elementary School into the district administrative building and Westside and close the Westside and Lincoln Elementary School buildings.
“Our students are missing out on opportunities because of limited space,” Public Relations Manager Chrisy Crough said. “With these new buildings and new space, they will have opportunities to learn and collaborate and do different things that the teachers just can’t do right now because of a lack of space.”
Each school will have adequate parking areas, proper storm shelters and improved learning spaces.
The new high school will also include athletic facilities equivalent to other 5A schools. A football field and track, soccer field and softball complex will be built, and existing facilities would be renovated for use by the middle school.
“Everything that we are proposing will be something that any student in Hays will be very proud of and prideful to show off,” superintendent Ron Wilson said. “It’s going to be an amazing transformation for our community.”
While the bond is one question on the ballot, citizens will also vote on a half percent increase in city sales tax, which would help fund the bond. One reason for this proposed sales tax is because USD 489 will not receive any state aid for bond capital improvements because Hays is considered a “property wealthy” county. A sales tax proposal, rather than a property tax proposal, allows costs of the bond to be shared with others who come into the community and spend money.
“Think of how many people come into the city of Hays – all of those people who spend money at the grocery store, gas stations and our restaurants are going to help pay for our schools instead of getting that state funding,” Crough said.
The sales tax increase will not affect individuals heavily, but will add up. For example, if someone buys a Snoball every day for $1.40, in a week, he will have spent an extra five cents.
“If you go into Dillons and buy $200 worth of groceries, the sales tax on that right now would be $17.50, and with the additional increase, you’d only be spending one extra dollar,” Wilson said.
To learn more, patrons can visit www.usd489.com and click on “USD 489 BOND.”
“It’s an investment in our community,” Wilson said. “Hays needs to understand that we have to compete as a community for our future. A bond could bring new businesses and new people, and that’s why it’s important that it happens now rather than later.”