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School referendum on ballot

Manawa seeks to borrow $3.5 million

By Holly Neumann


A Manawa School District referendum will be on the April 2 ballot.

Voters will be asked whether the district should borrow $3.5 million to build a two-court gymnasium addition, expand the fitness center at the high school, and buy related equipment.

This addition would include a 8,400-square-foot two-court gym on the upper or main level and provide bleacher seating for 240 spectators. It would also expand the previously approved Fitness Center from 3,000 to 5,000 square feet.

Currently the district has two gym facilities that are used for physical education classes, after-school for practices and competitions, for open gym and tournaments and in the summer for summer school and sports preparation and the fitness center provides space for equipment like weights and machines.

Expanding these spaces would provide open floor space for cardio workouts, yoga and other activities in addition to community access for open gym and adult clubs.

Athletic and Activities Director Skylar Liebzeit said a new gym is needed for the continued growth of the athletic and physical education departments.

“The addition of a gymnasium gives the physical education department another space that they can utilize,” said Liebzeit. “It will also impact the athletic department because it allows coaches from the youth programs all of the way to our varsity programs a consistent place to practice and play games while not having to worry about a time crunch or quick turnover. A third gym will also give our students and athletes an opportunity to go home at a reasonable time instead of having practice until 8:30 p.m. or 9 p.m.”

He also believes it will open up many more opportunities for the community of Manawa as a whole.

“I believe with the addition of the fitness facility and a gym will give the community something they can utilize and take pride in on a daily basis,” Liebzeit said.

Business Manager Carmen O’Brien said the timing is right due to low interest rates, a stable mill rate, and the fact that future construction costs will continue to rise and that architects, engineers, and contractors are already on site due to the construction projects that were approved in November.

Total cost of this project will be $3.5 million.

This debt would be added onto the $12 million referendum that taxpayers passed November 2018 and is scheduled to be repaid over 20-years.

The mill rate for 2018-19 is $9.14. This project, if passed, would add 73 cents to the mill rate for 2019-20 school year bringing it to a projected $9.87. The state average mill rate was $9.77 for 2017-18 and $9.46 for 2018-19.

The estimated referendum tax impact for a median home price of $118,500 would be an additional $86.50. per $100,000 of value.

Correction: An earlier version had $86.50 per $1,000 of value instead of the correct figure of $100,000.

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