St. John school 3-year levy tops ballot fund measures

Voters throughout the county are being asked to approve levies for various districts.

Among levies voters will decide on Nov. 5 is the St. John School District capital projects levy that will pay for the remaining heating system replacement for the school.

According to Superintendent Gary Wargo, the cost to complete the heating replacement project is $969,000. The levy will raise the money over three years beginning in 2014.

Taxpayers would see property tax levy estimates at $1.84 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2014, $1.80 per $1,000 in 2015 and $1.75 per $1,000 in 2016.

If approved, the funds will begin to be collected in May 2014 with taxes collected in May and November of each year.

The school district received a state energy grant for $1 million toward a $1.24 million project that will replace one boiler, heating pipes and heat exchangers in the elementary and secondary classrooms and that also provided money to replace the lighting in both the high school and elementary gyms.

Phase one, the classroom portion of the project, was substantially completed by the start of September to coincide with the start of the new school year. The project progressed well during the summer months, with it ending on time and within the budget.

With phase one complete, the heating system will be more dependable than it has been in recent years, classrooms will be adequately heated during the winter and provide a more energy efficient system over the next 20-25 years.

The City of Endicott is asking voters’ approval on special tax levies for street work and maintenance, and city park maintenance. The street tax levy that would be collected in 2014 is for $20,000 and would be approximately $1.69 per $1,000 of assessed value. The city park levy is for $7,000 and would be 59 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, also collected next year.

Endicott Park and Recreation District’s special levy will collect $40,000, at 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for the operating fund, swimming pool and reserve to be collected in 2014 if voters approve it.

Endicott Cemetery District also has a special tax levy on the ballot for $20,000 to be collected in 2014 estimated at 40 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

LaCrosse Park and Recreation District asks voters to approve a special levy for operation and maintenance of the swimming pool with the taxes to be collected in 2014. The levy is for 28 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, raising $40,000.

St. John Park and Recreation District wants to raise money for operation of the swimming pool and to build reserves for the district. The levy cost is 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, raising about $50,000.

Rosalia Park and Recreation District’s special levy request to collect $55,000 for operation and maintenance will cost property owners 52 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.