Decatur School Board will consider request to issue bond debt
City Schools of Decatur Administrative Offices. Photo by Dena Mellick
City Schools of Decatur Administrative Offices. Photo by Dena Mellick
The City Schools of Decatur Board of Education will formally consider a request for the City Commission to issue up to $75 million in bonds to pay for school construction.
In related news, the School Board will also consider adding $1.4 million to its contracts for pre-construction and design work at Decatur High and Renfroe Middle School.
The School Board will consider these items at its regular meeting on Jan. 12.
[adsanity id=27331 align=aligncenter /]
On Nov. 3, voters overwhelmingly approved a plan to borrow $75 million for school construction. Currently the school system has about 4,300 students, but will have over 6,000 by 2020. The $75 million to-do list for CSD includes $15 million for a new elementary school. The school board has about six acres along Talley Street under contract.
Paying off bond debt is expected to raise property taxes in Decatur by 8 percent. Decatur City Manager Peggy Merriss said the tax increase will likely be incremental and will be determined by the payment schedule for the debt.
The School Board is considering a resolution that would request the City Commission issue the bonds on Feb. 10, 2016.
Here is the resolution attached to the Jan. 12 board agenda:
In other action, the board will consider amending the contract of JE Dunn construction by an amount not to exceed $1.4 million for design and pre-construction work for phase 2 and 3 of renovation at the high school.
Phase 1 of the additions to the high school is expected to be completed this summer.
The board will also consider amending the contract of Cooper Carry Architects by an amount not to exceed $35,000 for design and pre-construction services for phase 2 of Renfroe Middle renovations. Phase 1 at Renfroe is also expected to be completed by this summer.
The Jan. 12 meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at City Schools of Decatur’s central office, located at 125 Electric Avenue, Decatur, GA, 30030. All meetings are open to the public.
[adsanity id=17766 align=aligncenter /]