About 40 area residents were on hand Monday night, Feb. 17, for a meeting sponsored by a group called South Tama Concerned Citizens led by adam Todd (right) for which opposition was expressed to the upcoming South Tama school bond issue and related questions will be on the ballot on March 3. News-Herald photos/John Speer

“It is absolutely preposterous to come ask us for $29 million and not give us more to work on than that they are going to build a middle school addition the high school,” Adam Todd summed up his feelings as the moderator and spokesperson at a meeting Monday night. The publicly announced gathering at the Reinig-Toledo Civic Center was called concerning the proposed $20.8 million South Tama bond issue vote along with two accompanying ballot questions set for March 3.

About 40 persons were on hand for the two-hour long session.

Several expressed their opinion there is a lack of plans for the spending. The proposal, in total, is $28.8 million with the backers promising no tax levy hike prompted several speakers to question what all is included in the proposal.

“What are we even voting on?” Todd asked. “How can they even estimate the middle school cost with no plans?

“They used something to estimate cost,” he continued. “Is it that we paid $20,000 for plans and the public just hasn’t been trusted to see those plans?”

Adam Todd acted as moderator and spokesperson at a two-hour bond issue meeting at the Reinig-Toledo Civic Center on Monday night, Feb. 17. He charged “a lack of transparency” surrounds the bond issue and accompanying measures.

Several of those attending agreed the lack of plans was a key point in their objections. Several also questioned how the plan can be financed without a property tax increase.

The bond issue asks for approval for an addition to the South Tama High School in Tama to replaced the middle school in Toledo. A study by the Invision Architect firm, Waterloo, said it found the addition the “most cost effective” to meet needs of the school district.

South Tama patrons will go to the polls to decide three issues- the bond issue and questions of raising the property tax levy from the current $2.07 to $4.05 per $1,000 valuation and to extend the use of sales tax money beyond a now set Jan. 1, 2031 expiration date. The bond issue and tax levy votes require a 60 percent approval and the sales tax extension 50 percent.

Elizabeth Dolezal, a member of the building committee, backed this saying the plans are the best use of district resources and are based upon that.

Todd listed items he said resulted “from a lack of transparency,” “No plans in spite of $20,000 to Invision and a 40-plus member committee working all summer. Is the middle school going to be torn down? What’s happening to the repairs needed?”

While Todd claimed he did not oppose a new middle school he emphasized his concern was finances. “Your taxes will go up,” he said. Your taxes have already gone up. They just want to keep them up.”

He charged the district had “hoarded” all the cash the state will allow – $4 million according to his figures, and then pointed to school finance law which he said sets a maximum percent schools may have in reserve.

The facilities study conducted by Estes Construction, West Des Moines, estimated work needed at the Middle School ranged from a low of $5,599,910 to $9,277,629.

Results of the Estes study were: total cost by facility in low to high range- Partnership Center- $3,997 – $6,439,965; Middle School- $5,599,910 – $9,277,629; Elementary School- $1,655,355 – $3,460,834; High School- $3,195 – $5,270,358; Concessions-Weight Room- $68,162 – $101,489; Four Seasons Building- $38,027 – $54,067; and Athletic Fields- $686,431 – $824,694.