Brownstown Board Discusses Bond Sale

Brownstown school board members Tuesday discussed the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance improvements at the school complex, with a public hearing on the intent to sell the bonds at the November board meeting.

Brownstown Superintendent Mike Shackelford said a host of projects could be financed with the revenue from the bond sale. The projects would include new water lines and plumbing under both the high school and the elementary buildings. Other work could include re-roofing the 1954 section of their elementary building and the 1941 portion of their high school building, as well as drainage work in the northwest part of their high school parking lot.

Another significant project would involve proper facilities to allow the reinstatement of Brownstown's agriculture program. Shackelford said the Ag program was scrapped a number of years ago, but the Board decided to bring it back. The work would involve rehabilitating the former Ag facilities, which has most recently been used as a garage and for storage.

Shackelford said if the bonds are sold, they would be designed to generate no more than $3 million. He said the Board has committed to use 80% of the money being received from the new 1% county sales tax to pay off the bonds. Shackelford said the sale of bonds would result in no increase in property taxes. He said, "There's a lot of excitement around here" due to the proposed project.

Also approved was an energy savings contract with GRP, as well as the purchase and installation of a water softener system at Brownstown Elementary School.

The Board also scheduled high school graduation for this school year on Saturday, May 15.

Shackelford received the go-ahead to prepare a fiscal year tax levy proposal, and the Board accepted the audit of the past fiscal year's books.