CCSD Seeking 6-Mill Increase for Gym

RISON - Voters in the Cleveland County School District will go to the polls in November to decide on a 6-mill tax increase to fund construction of a new gym estimated to cost about $12 million.All seven members of the Cleveland County School Board unanimously approved a motion by board member Helen Browning-Grice to seek the 6mill tax increase to fund the project. However, there was some disagreement as to when the election should be held.Under a new state law, the district could put the question before voters in November or wait until the March 2026 school election. After some discussion, board member Nick Bennett made a motion to have the millage vote in November, and after a pause, fellow board member William King seconded his motion. It passed by a 5-2 vote with Grice and Kelly Taylor voting against. Grice said in previous meetings leading up to Monday night's special meeting that she preferred having it in March so the board would have more time to explain it to voters. She said she thought one of the reasons the previous two millage elections failed was that some voters felt the district was trying to push it through without much discussion.William King pointed out Monday night that the price of the gym project could continue to climb by delaying the vote, noting that architect Steve Elliott told them the price could increase by as much as $1 million over a year's time. "I don't want the voters to think that we're trying to rush it, but it could save the district $500,000 (by getting a decision earlier before the prices continue to climb)," he said.The board was working against a narrow deadline if it wanted to have the election in November. Jason Holsclaw with Stephens, Inc., the district's financially adviser, told the board during a financial workshop last week that the district would have to file the election paperwork with the county clerk's office by Sept. 6 in order to get it on the November ballot. Holsclaw told the board...