Proposed South Tama High School addition. Struxture Architects drawing

A district-wide vote next Tuesday, April 5, to extend the revenue purpose statement is aimed at funding a nine-classroom addition to the South Tama High School in Tama. The special election is not a bond issue.

Instead, it gives the school district authority to pay for the construction expense from a one-cent sales tax revenue source. The sales tax money is primarily designated to fund school construction and building and grounds maintenance.

Mary Boege, South Tama schools business manager, estimated in November, 2015, the district will receive $1,378,852 in fiscal year 2016 in sales tax revenue money.

An engineer’s estimate of the cost of the addition is $5,715,713. A new band room could also be part of the project at an additional cost.

The addition project would result in the replacement of four portable classrooms in use since 1987 and could provide a student commons area.

Portable classrooms have been in use at South Tama High School since 1987. Chronicle file photo

Specifics of the revenue sharing statement are:

to build and furnish a new school building, to build and furnish additions to the school buildings in the District, to remodel, repair, expand, and improve the school buildings in the district, to purchase and improve grounds, for demolition work, or to furnish and equip district facilities.

for the purchase, lease of lease-purchase of buildings, equipment including transportation and recreation equipment, or technology as authorized by law, to implement energy conservation measures, sharing or rental of facilities, procuring or acquisition of libraries, or opening roads to schoolhouse or buildings.

for emergency repairs to respond to natural disasters, such as fire, wind damage, floods, unanticipated mechanical, plumbing, structural, roof, electrical system failures, environmental remediation, or to respond to changes in demographics that require construction of additions to improvements to present or new school buildings.

to establish and maintain public recreation places and playgrounds, provide for supervision and instruction for recreational activities or for community education purposes and other authorized expenditures and purposes as permitted by law and designated by the STC School District.

provide funds for the payment of principal and interest or retirement of general obligation bonds issued for school infrastructure purposes, energy improvement loans, loan agreements authorized by Iowa Code 297.36, sales, service and use tax revenue bonds.