School Bond Ballots Due in Prosser and Pasco
PROSSER & PASCO -- Millions of dollars are at stake, and you get to say how it's spent. Two big school bond issues will be decided Tuesday. Action News has dug into the numbers and we've told you what's at stake. Now it's the final push before the ballots are counted.
Two big votes. Two very different school districts. Both asking for the same thing: will they get more room to grow?
In Pasco, many parents, teachers and alums would like to earn your "yes" vote on the bond issue.
The "yes" group has raised and spent about $25,000.
Pasco's issue is overcrowding. The state's forecast puts about 5,000 more kids in the district by 2016, that's like the entire population of Benton City.
So they are asking for money to build elementary schools and a middle school.
There is no organized "no" side in in Pasco but you will see some signs around town. Pretty self explanatory, some don't want to pay for the bond.
In Prosser, there's a very active no side and notice the signs? They're everywhere in Prosser for and against. But it's not just signs, the no side is taking to the internet.
Prosserone.com was born in the Harvey's home. A few clicks and you can tell, they don't want this Prosser bond to pass.
Sherry Harvey is concerned the $39 million bond is simply too expensive to replace just one school.
That amount was reduced after failing back in February. But KEPR spoke with the superintendent, who argues the dollar figure was given the okay by an independent firm; it's not inflated.
"It is a significant amount of money for our community. But it's certainly going to add value to our community. And it's going to have major impact on the education of our kids," explained Prosser Principal Kevin Lusk.
Strong opinions on both sides but all agree on one thing, it's a tough time for schools to ask for money.
We'll see just how tough once the voters have a say. KEPR has learned The Benton County auditor is expecting a very high turnout for the
Prosser bond measure up to 65%. It has 54% returns as of Monday.
Pasco has just 39% but that's about normal for a spring election.
Two big votes. Two very different school districts. Both asking for the same thing: will they get more room to grow?
In Pasco, many parents, teachers and alums would like to earn your "yes" vote on the bond issue.
The "yes" group has raised and spent about $25,000.
Pasco's issue is overcrowding. The state's forecast puts about 5,000 more kids in the district by 2016, that's like the entire population of Benton City.
So they are asking for money to build elementary schools and a middle school.
There is no organized "no" side in in Pasco but you will see some signs around town. Pretty self explanatory, some don't want to pay for the bond.
In Prosser, there's a very active no side and notice the signs? They're everywhere in Prosser for and against. But it's not just signs, the no side is taking to the internet.
Prosserone.com was born in the Harvey's home. A few clicks and you can tell, they don't want this Prosser bond to pass.
Sherry Harvey is concerned the $39 million bond is simply too expensive to replace just one school.
That amount was reduced after failing back in February. But KEPR spoke with the superintendent, who argues the dollar figure was given the okay by an independent firm; it's not inflated.
"It is a significant amount of money for our community. But it's certainly going to add value to our community. And it's going to have major impact on the education of our kids," explained Prosser Principal Kevin Lusk.
Strong opinions on both sides but all agree on one thing, it's a tough time for schools to ask for money.
We'll see just how tough once the voters have a say. KEPR has learned The Benton County auditor is expecting a very high turnout for the
Prosser bond measure up to 65%. It has 54% returns as of Monday.
Pasco has just 39% but that's about normal for a spring election.
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