FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do you have questions about the Kimball Area Public Schools building referendum?
You came to the right place. Here are some of the topics and questions this page addresses:
What the approved referendum will mean for Kimball’s students, staff, and residents.
How the plan was developed.
What facility needs the plan will address.
What the plan costs and how that will impact you.
QUESTIONS ABOUT MOVING FORWARD NOW:
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Based on community input, the Kimball School Board asked voters to consider two ballot questions seeking a total of $10.4 million to improve the safety and educational quality at the district’s two school buildings. Voters approved the first of the two questions, which will invest $8.1 million repurpose $2 million in savings from last summer’s indoor air quality project for other facility upgrades, repairs and improvements. The investment will provide the following:
Improved safety and security at both schools.
Dedicated space for early childhood programs at the elementary school.
Dedicated cafeteria and physical education spaces at the elementary school.
Improved program space for science and FACS curriculum at the high school.
Dedicated gathering space for visiting sports teams at the high school.
Repurposed $2 million cost savings from the indoor air quality project last summer.
Learn more about the plan here.
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The financing of a larger, immediate project is more cost effective than smaller projects drawn out over several years when considering startup costs (including design, approval and oversight), interest rates and inflation rates over time.
Learn more about our next steps here.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEEDS AT KIMBALL SCHOOLS:
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Our buildings require security updates to ensure proper monitoring of visitors.
Our high school’s FACS and science classrooms haven’t been updated in 50 years.
Our youngest students need dedicated space for early childhood programs.
The elementary school gym serves as both the cafeteria and physical education space, which limits time for physical fitness and puts strain on maintenance staff.
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The district has properly maintained the buildings, but they are aging and have seen heavy use since their construction. The high school is 60 years old, and the elementary school is 30 years old. Both require significant reinvestment to extend their useful life. Further, some needs require more space than we currently have at the elementary school.
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In 2021, the district updated the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems at both the elementary and high school to improve air quality. This was a top priority identified by residents in 2019. The referendum approved by voters in August of 2022 will address other needs identified by the community, including security and educational updates.
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The district determined our buildings don’t need to be replaced, but they do need renovations to continue providing a safe and healthy environment while improving the support and services available to our students.
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Safer and healthier schools, designed for modern teaching and curriculum, will help students reach their potential. Educational standards change over time, and updating our learning environments will help students meet those standards now and into the future.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INVESTMENT PLAN:
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In 2019, the district surveyed residents to help develop a plan for investments in our 60-year-old high school and 30-year-old elementary school. Residents prioritized safety and security updates, new science labs and FACS classrooms, HVAC updates, and early childhood classroom renovations. The district also received feedback from stakeholder meetings with staff, agricultural landowners, and community leaders.
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Kimball Area Public Schools supports the quality of life that our communities enjoy by strengthening the local economy. Successful school districts with updated buildings supporting a modern curriculum help draw new families and businesses to our community.
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Funding will come from the sale of general obligation bonds. It is estimated that the State of Minnesota will pay 17% ($1.8 million) of the total referendum cost through the Ag2School tax credit for agricultural landowners. The district will also transfer an additional $2 million from savings from the indoor air quality project last summer to help pay the bonds.
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Built as a church in 1963, the nearly 60-year-old Kimball Area Community Education Center fails to meet today’s health and safety standards. Narrow hallways and bathroom stalls are not ADA compliant and thin walls and aging windows make it difficult to heat and cool. The building also has many structural challenges that do not support its current purpose as a childcare center. For example, there are only two one-stall bathrooms for more than 80 students and 20 staff members. In addition, the building’s kitchen has only one sink, with no stove or access to filtered water. This limits meals to microwaved or cold lunches and snacks. For water, the district must buy jugs to keep in the refrigerator. There is no laundry facility, so staff must take laundry to the high school to be washed.
Overall, the district has determined that the costs to renovate the Community Education Center far exceed the benefits for students, staff and taxpayers. The approved referendum will build an addition for early childhood at the elementary school, which will move early childhood programs and the Cubs Club school-aged childcare program out of the Community Education Center into a safe, healthy new space.
The district will pay for the demolition of the Community Education Center out of general funds, while the referendum will provide the funding needed to build a new parking lot in its place.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BOND REFERENDUM:
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In Minnesota, voters decide whether school districts can increase property taxes to pay for the bonds used for renovating and building school facilities. Like a loan on a car or mortgage on a house, the bonds need to be repaid over time plus interest.
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A bond is like a mortgage on your house, allowing all necessary investments to be made now while paying off the cost over 20 years. With construction costs increasing each year, it is less expensive to pay the interest on the bonds than to complete construction projects over many years.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AG2SCHOOL TAX CREDIT:
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The Ag2School tax credit reduces the property tax impact of school debt levies for owners of agricultural land. This is a 70% tax credit available to agricultural land, except the value of the house, garage, and one acre of land surrounding an agricultural homestead. It is estimated that the State of Minnesota will pay 17% ($1.8 million) of the total referendum cost through the Ag2School tax credit for agricultural landowners.
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No application is necessary for owners of farmland – this is an automatic tax credit paid directly by the state.
QUESTIONS ABOUT TAX IMPACT:
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A residential home in the district with a median value of $200,000 will see an estimated tax increase of $4 per month starting in 2023. If you’d like more information on the tax impact of your own home or business, please contact Ehlers at 1-800-552-1171 and ask for a member of the school finance team or email mnschools@ehlers-inc.com.
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The State of Minnesota sets the tax rate. Your county of residence then assesses your property and estimates the value it would likely sell for on the open market, which is one factor used in determining your property tax.
QUESTIONS ABOUT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION:
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ICS is one of the most experienced and successful project management firms in Minnesota. The district has retained their services for construction management. The project budget also includes architectural and financial expertise that the Minnesota Department of Education requires to approve a project.
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By law, any school project with a value greater than $175,000 must be bid and awarded to the lowest bidder. The district will use a process that informs and encourages local bidders, while still following state law. If local contractors are the low bidders, the school district will use local contractors.
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Construction will be done in phases to minimize disruption to student learning and school operations. The district estimates that all project work will be completed by fall of 2024.
Learn about our next steps here.