Multi-million Ames Elementary School Bond Headed for April 3 Ballot

Ames Community School Board expects to approve a resolution at its meeting tonight asking the Story County Auditor to place a $55 million bond referendum on a ballot April 3.

The district has been discussing a building plan that calls for replacing three elementary schools and repairing and renovating two others. A petition committee has been out gathering about 1,700 signatures in order to place the measure on the ballot.

The board currently plans to replace three elementary school buildings — , and — and renovate and remodel and . Both Meeker and Edwards would be replaced with newer, three-section schools. Meeker would be built on site and Edwards would be rebuilt on district property along Miller Avenue. Fellows would be replaced with a four-section school on the same site. A renovated Sawyer would become a three-section school, and a renovated Mitchell would become a two-section school.

If 60 percent of voters plus one say yes, property taxes would increase by about by about $1.13 per $1,000 assessed valuation. Commercial property valued at $100,000 would see a $113 annual increase in the school district's share of the property tax bill. Residential property valued at $100,000 would see a $53.84 increase in the school district's share of the property tax bill.

The school board meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the .