Commissioners would be wise to approve bond issue
Voting to take out a $1.2 million bond issue is never an easy decision. But that’s what county commissioners will face during their meeting Monday night.
Examining the situation and the work which needs to be done to various portions of our school system, commissioners would be smart to go ahead and approve the bond issue.
The Standard says this knowing that it’s never easy to agree to borrow money. That decision is only compounded when the dollar amount enters the millions. However, a quick overview of the facts shows the most cost-effective way to spend taxpayer dollars would be to do it through a low-interest bond.
The school improvements include several major projects which have been postponed for years. Those improvements include long-overdue renovations to Nunley Stadium and the Warren County Middle School auditorium. Also included is constructing a new multi-purpose fieldhouse which will be located at the high school.
There’s no doubt that economic times are tough and finding money is never easy. But it does make it somewhat easier to swallow knowing the $1.2 million will benefit education.
It’s important to note that these are not frivolous improvements. Hardly any major work had been done to Nunley Stadium in decades, outside of adding new restrooms on the home side about five years ago.
Over the last month or so, major concrete repairs have taken place to the home bleachers because the previous concrete was crumbling away and had become a safety hazard.
Similar repairs are badly needed for the middle school auditorium which has seats that are falling apart. Some seats are in such a state of disrepair, with no arm rests, or no backs, they can’t be used at all.
These repairs are going to take place one way or the other. Commissioners can either take out a bond and benefit from low interest rates, or they can allow the money to be taken each year from the school system budget. And, as we all know, it’s a school system budget which is hardly overflowing with excess money.
There’s also the new fieldhouse to consider which could add a dash of morale to the high school athletic program. Having a top-notch facility instills a sense of pride and perhaps it could be a small step toward bringing the football team back to its winning ways.
It’s never the right time to borrow money and excuses can always be made. And we’re confident some commissioners will be against the $1.2 million bond issue tomorrow night. But we hope enough commissioners realize that the work is going to get done, eventually, regardless of their vote. This is just the most cost-effective way to do it.