The Carl Junction R-1 Board of Education voted Monday, Aug. 17 to put a $1 million question on the November ballot. The "Proposition K.I.D.S." measure would not increase the current debt service property tax levy, said school officials.

The school is proposing borrowing $1 million for the purpose of providing funds for needed school repairs and improvements. Dr. Jim Cummins, assistant superintendent, explained at the July meeting of the R-1 board that the school would be looking at making the repairs in the near future, with or without the additional funds. Cummins said the school could borrow the money now, without increasing the debt service levy to taxpayers. He explained that by borrowing the money at this time, the district could take advantage of economic stimulus money through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Cummins said the money is available through the state of Missouri. Cummins said that the state is making interest-free loans available to the schools. The school could move up some of their needed repairs in order to take advantage of the situation.

"These are repairs and improvements that we are going to have to make anyway. By doing them now, we will take advantage of the stimulus money and get the interest-free money," Cummins told the board.

The board approved the draft ballot language at their August meeting. According to the ballot, the funds will be used to replace heating and air at the K-1 building, the roof on the Intermediate building and lighting in the Primary 2-3 and Intermediate buildings. It will also fund the construction of new covered bus bays and completion of other remodeling and repair improvements to the existing facilities of the district.

If voters approve, the district would issue bonds, a portion of which may include Qualified School Construction Bonds and Qualified Zone Academy Bonds, in an amount not to exceed the allocation from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

School officials estimate the debt service levy would remain unchanged at $.82 per one hundred dollars of assessed property valuation.