Worth County April No Tax Increase Bond Issue

By Superintendent Chris Healy

Worth County R-III school board voted unanimously to place a no tax increase bond issue on the April 2, 2024 ballot. This ballot measure will ask voters permission to borrow $1,300,000 and the debt service levy of the district will remain unchanged. This money will be used to fund building improvements and maintenance. 

The projects will include constructing a secure hallway between the Agriculture building and the HS hallway, install LED lighting at the softball field and throughout the school, improve HVAC systems, improve visitor seating options at the football field, repair/replace roofs and gutters as needed, renovate and secure building entrances, acquire buses, and other repairs or improvements the district needs to the extent funds are available.

Missouri public school districts are limited on how much of their general revenue and savings that they can use on facility needs and projects. Usually, schools need to look for other sources of funding to be able to maintain and improve school building and grounds.

Borrowing money via a bond issue is a way to acquire funds that can be used for capital project needs. Currently, the district has just over $500,000 in the capital project fund that can be used for facility needs. The remaining portion of the district’s reserve must be spent on operating expenses of the district. 

This bond issue will put the district in a place

to be able to make needed repairs and improvements to the district facilities. The district’s facilities committee has identified these needs of the district and the school board has determined that an April ballot measure is the best way for the school district and community to feasibly maintain the facilities that are used by 280 students, their families, and the community. 

If this bond issue passes, Worth County R-III will remain the lowest levy out of the 14 area school districts and put the school in a position

to be able to make repairs and improvements, while using current revenues and savings to operate the school district’s day-to-day expenses.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the school by stopping by, calling 660-564-3389, or email Superintendent Chris Healy at chealy@wc.k12.mo.us. Go Tigers!