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BOURBON - The Triton School Board presented their proposed $16 million junior/senior high school expansion project for a second public hearing Thursday.
More than 100 residents of the district, which includes Bourbon, Etna Green and Tippecanoe Township, filled the bleachers at the "Old Gym" building on Harris Street to hear the presentation and voice their opinions.
The proposal, first presented at a public hearing Jan. 15, includes the addition of three science labs, a new office area with a nurse's office and conference room, six new classrooms, an activity gym, a wrestling room, a weight room and two locker rooms at a total cost of $5,835,225. The project also includes $3,458,469 in renovation and $6,701,750 in infrastructure upgrades to bring the systems in the 36-year-old building up to current state code.
Curt Pletcher, of H. J. Umbaugh and Associates, estimated the maximum property tax impact of the project to be 28 cents per $100 of assessed value, based on a 20-year repayment program. At Thursday's hearing, Pletcher said taxpayers could save $2.3 million by shortening the repayment period to 16 years. The change would add another 7.5 cents onto the tax impact.
Many opinions expressed at the Jan. 15 hearing, concerning the tax impact on area farmers and the educational impact on students, were repeated Thursday.
Bourbon farmer Chris Glingle said, "The farmers are going to be hit the hardest. We have to ask ourselves 'Can the farmers afford the extra money?'"
"I think I'd be disappointed if we didn't give the kids the best we can," said resident Don Bell.
Bourbon resident John Glingle said he is afraid the school board is forgetting another section of the population.
"I'm afraid you've ignored one of the most important groups of taxpayers; the senior citizens," he said. "A lot of older citizens can't afford this."
A 1028 hearing, in which the school board will make a decision on whether or not to proceed with the project, is scheduled for Feb. 26. The board decided Thursday to schedule an open house at the school for interested residents to tour the facility and pose their questions to staff. A date for the open house has not yet been set. Following the open house, the board will consider whether another public hearing is necessary before the 1028 hearing.
