Patrons of the Harlan Community School District have an opportunity to attend a Public Hearing this evening in the Harlan High School Auditorium, with regard to next Tuesday’s (Dec. 11) Special Election on a $28.5-million  bond referendum. The meeting begins at 7-p.m.  On Dec. 11th, voters will head to the polls from 7-a.m. until 8-p.m., to decide the fate of Proposition A: A General Obligation bond which would fund facility updates, and Proposition B – Authorizing an increase in the tax levy by $4.05 per thousand dollars of taxable property value, of which the district will contribute 80-cents per $4.05, leaving a net tax impact of $3.25 per thousand. Proposition C asks for voter approval to extend the PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy), and Proposition D – Extending the Instructional Support Levy (ISL), neither of which school officials say, has no added tax effect.

The tax impact for homeowners with a home assessed at $100,000 would amount to $13.75/month, and $3.97/acre, to landowners, for agricultural property.

School officials say the Harlan Intermediate and High School facilities are between 40- and 50-years old, and are in need of major renovations. If approved, the $28.5-million bond would call for security and system updates at the Intermediate/High School. It also would provide at the Intermediate/High School: More Classrooms/Hands-on space; Auditorium updates; STEM/Science spaces, and updates to the Weight Room.  The bond would fund over 180-thousand square feet of renovations at a cost of 50-percent less than a new building. Safety and Security, Educational Enhancements, and Systems Upgrades are the three main priorities identified as a result of multiple work sessions, and community meetings.

For more information, go to: http://bondissue.org/harlan/