School board moves forward on $9M bond

Published 12:25 am Sunday, August 27, 2017

 

NATCHEZ — The Natchez-Adams School Board approved minutes Friday that would be part of its package to take out a $9 million bond to help fund a district wide building project.

School Board Attorney Bruce Kuehnle said the minutes would be used as part of the package the district must submit when taking out the $9 million bond.

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Kuehnle said the district has not made a final decision on when the district would submit the package.

The board approved the minutes from July 26 and July 28. The minutes from July 26 primarily concerned the $9 million bond.

The school board seeks to borrow $9 million to begin to fund renovations throughout the school district.

The $9 million bond likely would be paid for through a limited tax note, which would probably require a 3-mill increase in taxes.

The district also seeks to acquire an additional $25 million through a lease program.

A group of residents sought to force the decision to borrow $9 million to a November election, but did not get enough signatures. Many of the petitioners have said they cannot afford a tax increase.

Residents have also said taking out a $9 million bond was against the will of the community because voters had already defeated the school district’s earlier $35 million bond request for building improvements during a May election.

Kevin Wilson, who led the failed petition effort, filed a lawsuit earlier this month. The lawsuit asks the Adams County Circuit Court to strike down the school board’s actions toward borrowing the $9 million.

The lawsuit alleges the school board’s resolution to borrow $9 million violated the law by not providing proper notice to the citizens of Adams County and by not following proper procedures as set by state law.