Background
Dear Como and Pickton Communities:
The Como-Pickton CISD school board voted unanimously to call a $29,580,000 bond election to be held on November 7, 2023.
The bond package includes construction of a new Career Technical Education (CTE) facility including classrooms and workshop spaces, and construction of a new competition gymnasium. Since original construction of these facilities, our student population has more than doubled creating overcrowding of these particular areas. For instance, our school hosts at least eight different teams for basketball. Seventh grade boys, seventh grade girls, eighth grade boys, eighth grade girls, JV boys, JV girls, varsity boys, and varsity girls all have to share practice time and game time in one gym where most schools have two or three gyms throughout their districts to ease that overcrowding. Additionally, our current CTE facilities were built as temporary structures almost fifty years ago and are not only well past the original capacity, they are also not capable of being utilized for student purposes much longer. While our school has many needs, these two areas of improvement would hold the greatest positive impact for our students.
Over the next few weeks, you will hear a few different numbers discussed, and I want to provide you with information to help you make an informed decision when you go to the polls. Our district is able to leverage $17,000,000 with the passing of this bond through effort from local property values. If and when the Pine Forest Solar Project begins construction, the district is able to increase the bond amount from $17,000,000 to $29,580,000 without any additional burden on the district’s tax payers like you. The reason is that financial projections estimate that Pine Forest Solar, as a taxpayer, will pay approximately 30% of the district’s debt burden. If the Pine Forest Solar Farm does not build its anticipated project, the bond amount will remain closer to the $17,000,000 amount. Also, with the passing of this bond package, a taxpayer with a home valued at $250,000 will pay $40.86 less on their new taxes than they did on their 2022 tax bill.
Como-Pickton CISD residents will have the opportunity to vote on the referendum beginning with early voting on October 23 – November 3, 2023, and on Election Day, November 7, 2023. The county will hold an early voting location in our CISD administration office. We are asking every citizen to be educated about the bond. It is important to have your voice heard during this election.
If you would like more information, please contact me at 903-488-3671.
Please make sure you vote in this election.
Your Proud Superintendent - Dr. Greg Bower