Watonga School Board Sets Bond Vote for February

WATONGA – Watonga voters will take to the polls on Feb. 8, as Watonga Public Schools officials seek approval for a nearly $20 million bond issue that would finance a major facelift for district facilities.

The Watonga school board voted on Thursday, Dec. 9 – the deadline day for filing with the county elections office – to request the bond to build a new school gymnasium, concessions facilities, locker rooms and an elementary school cafeteria. The bonds will total $19,995,000.

District officials also aim to create two STEM labs – “science, technology, engineering and math” spaces with virtual reality technology and other cutting-edge equipment – on both campuses with the bond, among other improvements.

Watonga Superintendent Kyle Hilterbran said the bond would raise district property taxes about 7.49% and bring the district to 25 mills, which he says is in line with other local, rural districts.

The bonds would be on Watonga’s tax rolls for about 16 years, officials said.

“I’m excited,” Hiliterbran told the Watonga Republican. “I think this is a great opportunity for our community.” He believes passing the bond will make Watonga more attractive to parents, businesses and other transplants in the future.

Such bonds are often successful, and have been recently in Watonga, but sometimes draw opposition from landowners and homeowners who stand to pay more in property taxes. Hilterbran has pointed out before that the most impacted stakeholders would be large landowning companies, like energy producers, that are not based locally.

Matthew Reichert, vice president of financial services firm Stephen H. McDonald & Associates, was on hand at Thursday’s meeting to answer questions about the bond issuance.

Reichert said the gymnasium is estimated to cost $11,300,000. A new structure that will, at minimum, include a concession stand, restrooms, and baseball and softball locker rooms will cost another $4,245,000, the elementary cafeteria will cost about $4,100,000, and wrestling room improvements at the high school will cost $350,000. The projects combined add up to the requested $19,995,000.

Hilterbran said the project will also include a new parking lot southwest of the school and possibly an additional locker room and weight room inside the concessions/restrooms/lockers facility. The projects specifically mentioned in the resolution would be required to be built, he explained, though the district may be able to add additional features as it finalizes plans with its architects.

Before calling the vote, Watonga Public Schools held meetings with community stakeholders to take feedback on the proposed projects.