Union Community School District Releases Project Scope

The Union Community School District has released the project scope for improvements to be made at its facilities if a $20.5 million bond referendum is approved by voters on November 5, 2024.

The project, designed to improve student safety and address deficiencies at all Union CSD campuses, was developed by Denovo Construction Solutions after more than two years of assessments and planning by the Board of Education, administration, and a facility task force.

Union High School would undergo the most extensive improvements. The project includes a new boiler and chiller plant serving the school, along with new ventilation systems to improve indoor air quality and dehumidification.

Additional renovations would be made to the science rooms, family and consumer science room, public restrooms, locker rooms, cafeteria, and library. A new practice gymnasium and locker rooms would also be constructed.

The existing high school library is underutilized and fails to meet current programming needs. The current kitchen and cafeteria spaces also present operational challenges. Under this proposal, these spaces would be relocated, transforming the existing cafeteria and kitchen into a new library and student center. The existing library would be renovated into a new commons area with a kitchen, public restrooms, and concessions.

Improvements to the fire alarm and mechanical system at Dysart-Geneseo Elementary School and La Porte City Elementary School are included in the project scope. Mechanical systems at the elementary schools will receive preventative maintenance and equipment replacement, as needed.

The total estimated project cost is $27.45 million. General obligation bonds approved by voters would pay for $20.5 million and be supplemented with funds from the district’s Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) and the statewide one-cent sales tax fund, known as SAVE.

An approved bond issue would have a tax impact of $2.70 per $1,000 of taxable property value. For a home with an assessed value of $150,000, this amounts to $14.55 per month. For commercial and industrial property with an assessed value of $150,000, the monthly impact would be $15.64.

Based on the average assessed value of agricultural land per county, the annual tax impact for one acre would be $3.96 in Benton and Buchanan counties, and $3.60 in Blackhawk and Tama counties.