CHIMACUM — The Chimacum School District has scheduled six public meetings or presentations on its proposed $29.1 million bond measure that will be on the Feb. 9 special election ballot.
At a special meeting Tuesday morning, the Chimacum School Board unanimously approved the ballot measure question.
The bond would fund the expansion of the Chimacum Creek Primary School and build new athletic facilities.
The proposed bond is $5.7 million — about 15 percent — lower than a $34.8 million bond defeated by voters last February.
The ballot language says the bond has “the purpose of providing funds for capital improvements to the facilities of the district and authorizing the superintendent to submit a request for eligibility for the Washington State School District Credit Enhancement Program.”
Input was solicited during the process with a combination of public events and a dialogue on the Thought Exchange website.
This outreach will continue during the campaign with six presentations planned before the election.
They are:
■ 9 a.m. Dec. 9 — Jefferson County Library, a presentation to the board at the library, 620 Cedar Ave., Port Hadlock.
■ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 12-13 — Chimacum Arts and Crafts Fair, 91 West Valley Road.
■ 1 p.m. Jan. 6 — Port Ludlow Bay Club, 120 Spinnaker Place.
■ Noon Jan. 7 — Tri Area Rotary Club, 10 West Valley Road.
■ 4:30 p.m. Jan. 7 — Port Ludlow Beach Club, 121 Marina View Drive.
■ Noon Jan. 11 — Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, Port Townsend Elks Club, 333 Otto St.
Intensive publicity push will help to pass the bond, according to School Board Chairman Kevin Miller
“This bond is better that the last one because we had more community input,” he said after Tuesday’s meeting.
“I feel that the last bond was a success because it informed the district of the needs we have, so now we have the base to provide a better base of understanding as to what those needs are.”
One item on the last bond that was excised from the new measure is the construction of a full service athletic facility, which Miller said is no longer necessary.
“When we ran the last bond, the maintenance of Memorial Field was in doubt,” Miller said of the Port Townsend athletic facility that serves as Chimacum’s home field.
“We’ve scaled that back because Memorial Field now has a more distinct future.”
One year ago the field needed extensive repairs that were completed in May.
Miller said the reconfiguration of the primary school to accommodate fourth and fifth grade will offer those students a learning advantage due to its proximity to the Jefferson County Library.
Bond issues require voter approval by 60 percent plus one vote in areas where the number of votes returned is at least 40 percent of the total vote in last year’s election.
Chimacum, with 8,744 registered voters, will need to draw at least 1,817 votes.
In Chimacum, a property tax levy rate of $1.26 per $1,000 assessed property value would be expected to be required for 20 years to finance the bond.
Approval of the bond measure would mean that the annual property tax for a $150,000 property would increase by $189, the school district said.
Superintendent Rick Thompson said he is available to answer questions from any voter about the bond issue and is available to address groups.
To contact Thompson, call 360-302-5896 or write rick_thompson@csd49.org.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
