USD 421 Bond

Bonds for schools are voter-approved funds that can be used for school facilities and other essential school needs. The district sells bonds to investors who will be paid back over time with funds raised through property taxes. School bonds begin with a general election to authorize a specific amount for projects detailed on the ballot.

A Mill Levy is a tax on the assessed value of property (such as land, buildings, vehicles, etc...) in a given jurisdiction. Mill Levies are expressed in $1 of tax per $1,000 of assessed value. The mill levy is set by the public in order to fund public services such as schools, parks and recreation areas. The total value of property in the jurisdiction will be taxed at the mill levy rate raising funds needed for the public services.

Proceeds from school bonds can be used for capital expenditures including the remodeling and repair of existing school facilities, construction of building projects like classrooms, stadiums, and libraries, as well as acquisition of land. Funds can also be used for the purchase of buses, equipment, and materials including textbooks, computers, technology infrastructure, musical instruments, science materials, and other classroom resources.

No. By law, bonds cannot be used for teacher salaries or recurring expenses such as utilities and operations. Bonds are earmarked for one-time costs such as school facilities, capital improvements, instructional materials, and transportation.

Proposition No. 1:

Shall the following be adopted?

Shall Unified School District No. 421, Osage County, Kansas (Lyndon), issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $4,980,000, to pay the costs to (a) acquire, construct, equip and install renovations and improvements to the district high school, middle school and elementary school buildings, including (i) new upgrades to HVAC and boiler systems and related electrical improvements, (ii) replacement of old single-pane windows with new double-pane windows, and (iii) electrical system upgrades, (b) construct and equip a new district greenhouse, and (c) make all other necessary and related improvements (collectively, “Project No. 1”); all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 10-101 et seq., K.S.A. 25-2018(f), K.S.A. 72-5457, and K.S.A. 72-5458 et seq.?

Proposition No. 2:

Shall the following be adopted?

Shall Unified School District No. 421, Osage County, Kansas (Lyndon), issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $3,650,000, to pay the costs to (a) construct, furnish and equip a new collaborative learning center addition at the elementary school and middle school for cafeteria, STEM lab and storm shelter, and (b) construct secure entry vestibules at the south high school entrance and north elementary school and middle school entrance, and (c) make parking improvements at District facilities, and (d) make all other necessary and related improvements (collectively, “Project No. 2”); all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 10-101 et seq., K.S.A. 25-2018(f), K.S.A. 72-5457, and K.S.A. 72-5458 et seq.?

Yes,

If question #1 is approved the projected mill levy increase would 8.50.

If both question #1 and #2 are approved the projected mill levy increase would be 14.50.

Cost to Homeowner of Projected Mill Levy Increase

Annual Property Tax

Home Value Q #1 Q #1&2

$50,000 $48.88 $83.38

$75,000 $73.31 $125.06

$100,000 $97.75 $166.75

$150,000 $146.63 $250.13

$200,000 $195.50 $333.50

Monthly Property Tax

Home Value Q #1 Q #1&2

$50,000 $4.07 $6.95

$75,000 $6.11 $10.42

$100,000 $8.15 $13.90

$150,000 $12.22 $20.84

$200,000 $16.29 $27.79

Daily Property Tax

Home Value Q #1 Q #1&2

$50,000 $0.13 $0.23

$75,000 $0.20 $0.34

$100,000 $0.27 $0.46

$150,000 $0.40 $0.69

$200,000 $0.54 $0.91

A PDF with information for other property types can be downloaded here

September 2020

Kansas Association of School Boards held a workshop for the Board of Education to help determine district goals. This included facility goals. The Board created a strategic plan to help guide decisions on how to spend. It also determined that a school bond was needed to meet our goals.

February 2021

Board of Education interviews architectural firms to help achieve many of the facility goals that were identified in the strategic plan. The Board selected Alloy Architecture out of Wichita.

August 2021

Board of Education delayed the original election date of April 2022. Kansas Department of education was hopeful the percentage of state aid paid to our district would increase. This eventually did not make it out of the Senate or House.

September 2021

Community Surveys were sent out to gather community input.

February 2022

Bond Steering Committee was formed. The committee consisted of approximately 40 community members, local business owners, parents, students and teachers.

March & April 2022

Community Input meetings were held in Vassar and Lyndon.

August 2022

Bond Campaign Committee was formed.

October & November 2022

Bond Information Meetings held in the Vassar and Lyndon communities.

November 8, 2022

Election Day!

In the event that the bond is approved the Lyndon USD 421 Board of Education will appoint an oversight committee to monitor the progress of the bond program?

Great schools are the heart of thriving communities and cities. Young people are our future workforce, homeowners, and taxpayers, and our schools prepare these young leaders to be successful in college, careers, and life. When a community invests in its schools, it is investing in a stronger, brighter future for all residents. That same investment in schools also keeps neighborhoods vital, safe, and attractive, while increasing property values.

If you have ever had children in public school or were a public school student yourself, people before you helped to fund the schools you and/or your child(ren) attended. Likewise, when current residents help pay for the schools we have now, they are investing in the future. As new residents move into our district, they assume these taxes as well. Regardless of where you live in Kansas, your property taxes will help fund schools in that area.

Eric Ratzloff - BOE President

Brad Marcotte - Superintendent

Lori Sturdy - BOE Elect

Jennifer Hamlet - LEMS Principal

Tanner Smith - LHS Principal

Heather Green - LEMS Teacher

Tim Kilgore - LHS Teacher

Teresa Lane - Business Owner

Chelsi Simpson - Business Owner

Doug Shout - Agriculture

Eva Anschutz - Patron

Mary Ann Dawson - Patron

Travis Brown - Parent

Tyler Bean - Parent

Jeff Burkdoll - Parent

The bond questions will be on the November 8th, 2022 ballot.

There are three ways you can register to vote in Kansas.

1. Online voter registration can be completed here.

2. You can register by mail by completing the form found here.

3. You can register in person at the courthouse in Lyndon.

Registration deadlines

• In-person at local election office : Oct 18

• Online : Oct 18

• By mail (postmarked by) : Oct 18

If you are unable to vote in person on November 8th, 2022 you can request and use an absentee ballot.

Absentee ballot deadlines

• Request ballot : Nov 1

• Return ballot by mail (postmarked by) : Nov 8

• Return ballot in person : Nov 8

*Advance/Absentee/Mail-In Ballot application can be found here.

[PROVIDE INFORMATION ON WHERE TO VOTE]

Voter Eligibility in Kansas requires the following 4 items.

1. You must be a U.S. Citizen.

2. You must be 18 years of age on or before election day.

3. You must be a resident of the State of Kansas

4. You must NOT currently be under sentence for a felony

**TO VOTE ON THIS BOND YOUR ADDRESS ON FILE ALSO HAS TO BE IN THE LYNDON SCHOOL DISTRICT**

If you are already registered and would like to verify what information is on file with the Secretary of State you can do that at https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/VoterView