Union Bond Vote Tomorrow

If you live in the Union Public School District, you need to vote on whether or not to pass the latest bond issue. This year it is a 22.5 million dollar bond, a bit more than last year...(I see a re-occurring theme)...

Here are the last several bond amounts.
2009: $20,000,000
2008: $19,400,000
2007: $17,000,000
2006: $15,200,000
2005: $13,000,000*
2004: $17,000,000*
2003: $16,000,000*
*Remember that Union school bonds are on a 5 year cycle. The new one coming on with the oldest one dropping off.


Here is the list of things the money is being used for this year.

UCA High School Wing - Phase 1**	12,000,000
Grove Remodel - Phase 2**	4,500,000
Textbooks/Media Books**	810,000
Site Allocations**	730,000
8th Grade Cooling Tower**	150,000
Tuttle Field - Remove Crown $ Returf**	1,200,000
Fine Arts Instruments/Equipment**	180,000
Athletics/Epirit Equipment/Uniforms/Pool Upgrade**	200,000
Technology Hardware/Software/Cameras**	820,000
Maintenance/Operations Equipment**	165,000
Buses/Transportation Equipment ***	945,000
Contingency and Fees**	800,000
Total	$22,500,000

**Proposition 1
***Proposition 2

The only thing in this list that gave me pause is the $1.2 mill for the football field. It seemed a little exsisve to me so I called Superintendent Dr. Cathy Burden to get more information.

She told me that Tuttle Field had two problems that they were looking to solve with this item.

1. The turf is in bad shape. I asked why it couldn't just be repaired to which she replied that it had been in fact repaired, many times. Dr Burden told me that there were over 300 "holes" in the field where there the turf had been patched. It is Union's opinion that the field has been repaired as much as it can be and that it's time for it to be replaced entirely.

2. The field has a crown or dome...aka it is not a flat field. When the field was built the district was talked into the crown on the promise that it would ease draining problems. Unfortunately, according to Dr. Burden, the crown actually causes draining problems. Also I'm told that the field cannot be used for soccer.  I guess you need a flat field for soccer. Trying to kick the ball in a straight line on a field with a crown is difficult I guess.

The idea behind this item is to kill two birds with one stone. Dr. Burden also pointed out that Tuttle Field is in use at least 300 days out of the year, and with this change it could get even more use(I'm guessing that means they will be able to play soccer after this?)

I have to admit that I still think $1.2 million seems excessive, but at least I understand the reason behind the item.  I would have preferred that the returf be placed in it's own proposition, nevertheless tomorrow I'll be voting yes on both proposition. 

I should have pointed out somewhere in this post but never did...until just now...that the passage of this bond will not cause a net change in any one persons taxes.  As it is a sunset tax that is being renewed, technically this is an increase in tax but that is only if you are being really strict.  If this passes no one's property tax will be higher as a result.