Wentzville Board of Education talks tax levy
July 19, 2010
Wentzville, MO
The WSD Board of Education voted Thursday to place a proposition on the November ballot (“Proposition 3”) for a proposed tax levy increase to accommodate the continued enrollment growth of the District.
Superintendent Dr. Terry Adams recommended – and the Board agreed – to place a 30 cent tax levy increase on the November 2, 2010 ballot for the purpose of adding the space necessary to sustain the full-day kindergarten program, add middle school classroom space to facilitate enrollment growth, and build the first phase of a new, third high school.
“The community has voiced support for these projects and enrollment figures also emphasize the need,” said Dr. Adams. “Further, I recommend that we establish a sunset clause on the levy because the purpose of the levy is only to build the needed facilities as outlined above. Once the debt is retired we can and should eliminate the requested levy.”
A committee of parents, educators, administrators and community members met on June 30th to discuss and plan for the continued enrollment growth in the District. The Facility Steering Committee was addressed by Dr. Adams and Chief Financial Officer Kari Monsees who presented the history, current status and projected enrollment for the District.
Just a decade ago in the 2000-2001 school year, enrollment in the District was under 6,000 students. Enrollment this year topped 12,000, and the projected enrollment over the next five years is expected to exceed 15,000. Dr. Adams added that those numbers are conservative estimates that have been adjusted downward due to the economy. Data was also presented showing that the current enrollment, even without any additional growth, will require expansion at the middle and high school levels. For the past school year, enrollment in the District’s two high schools totaled 3,264. When the students currently enrolled in 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades all reach high school, that number will total 3,776. Design capacity at Holt and Timberland high schools (even with the latest Timberland expansion) is 3,600 students. Similarly, enrollment in the District’s elementary schools exceeds the current middle school capacity as well.
The presentation included a summary of the Guiding Principles for our Schools (GPS) community meeting in January which was attended by 400 people, where stakeholders expressed overwhelming support for a third high school, facility expansion at the middle and elementary school levels, and the desire to continue offering full-day kindergarten.
Recent US Census data demonstrates the dramatic growth in the area since 2000. The communities of Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, Dardenne Prairie and O’Fallon, which all feed the Wentzville School District, far out-paced the rest of the county in terms of new growth. From 2000-2009, the city of Wentzville more than tripled in size and had the largest population growth in the county.
The proposed 30-cent tax-rate increase would be used to continue full-day kindergarten, fund the needed facility expansion at the elementary and middle school levels, and to build the first phase of a third high school. The District presently has funds from the 2008 bond issue to purchase land for the additional high school. The District’s current tax rate is set at $4.58 per $100 of assessed value. The proposed levy would increase that rate to $4.88 per $100 of assessed value. District residents who own a home with a market value of $200,000 for example, could expect to pay an additional $114 a year, or $9.50 per month if the proposition passes.
From the Wentzville School District
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