Highland school project comes in over estimates

RIVERSIDE - A new set of estimates shows projects the Highland School District plans to hold a bond referendum for in August are about $600,000 more than anticipated, but district taxpayers still may not see an increase in their tax rates.

During a workshop Monday evening, consultant Mike Jorgensen said the additional money is because the building committee did not take into account a contingency fund and design fees when coming up with the $2.7 million estimate. He also said rubberizing the surface of the Highland Elementary School's playground came in slightly above estimates. The most recent cost estimates show the project will cost $3,283,282. Joe Tursi of OPN Architects said there may be some fluctuation in the estimates, but not much.

'I still think we can do the project without raising the tax rate,” Jorgensen said. 'Property values have been increasing more than we previously estimated. It may take eight years to pay it back instead of seven.”

Since the beginning of the project, the goal has been not to raise the tax rate. Property values have been on the rise due to new construction and the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort, which is in the district, coming off its tax incentive program this year. Property tax rates in the district were $16 per $1,000 of taxable valuation four years ago, and were $13.19 this year. The coming year's budget shows the rate will drop another 10 cents per $1,000. A rough estimate is that the bond referendum would add about 25 cents to the declining tax rate.

During the workshop, the Highland School Board looked at each phase of the project and chose a few items that could save money.

During the discussion, Luke Newton, of MMS Construction, showed the Highland Elementary School playground, saying the new surface would be rubberized. He said the rubber is very safe but would get harder over time. He predicts the life expectancy is about 10 years. Projected cost is about $360,000.

According to the plan, one rooftop HVAC system would be installed. Each room would have its own controls for temperature. It would also provide air conditioning to such places as the gym, which currently doesn't have any kind of climate control. The main Highland building that includes the middle school and the high school has been added onto four times. During each of the additions, a different heating/cooling system was used. While the district has a computerized system that is trying to assign a certain temperature, the different systems don't communicate. He said some rooftop units are in use and some are ventilators. Some rooms have window air units. The projected cost is $2.1 million.

The fine arts department at the high school only has a closet for storage. Jorgensen said there is an area behind the fine arts room that can be built onto that would provide more storage for the department. Also, the district plans to use an unused part of a locker room for additional storage. The approximate cost is about $200,000. During the meeting, the board decided to use less costly metal plates for the walls of the room, rather than brick.

Jorgensen said the building committee has already approached the school board about holding the referendum. The next step would be for the committee to circulate a petition to put the issue on the August ballot.