A new set of project renderings were released this week for the proposed South Tama Middle School construction and renovation at the former Iowa Juvenile Home in Toledo. Pictured is a view looking southeast over the new construction addition on the left and the existing juvenile home school building that would be renovated on the right. The city of Toledo is simultaneously pursuing a housing development project that would utilize the open land to the east and south of the school should the March 1 bond measure pass. – Image courtesy of Invision Architecture

Five area precincts will be open as residents vote on a bond issue question for the South Tama Community School District on Tuesday, March 1.

On the ballot is a proposal to renovate the Iowa Juvenile Home property to address STC Middle School’s space and facility needs. The property would be renovated to provide a 21st century learning environment, with a new addition to the north of the existing juvenile home building.

The question on the ballot is the recommendation of a community-led Facility Task Force, which examined the middle school’s facility needs and explored potential solutions. The task force reviewed several options and recommended to the Board of Education the renovation of the IJH after an evaluation of numerous factors, including cost, logistics, space and community feedback.

A supermajority of 60 percent of the vote is required for the bond measure to pass.

Voters who live within the school district’s boundaries may cast their ballots at the following locations Tuesday, March 1:

Tom Upah of rural Chelsea addresses members of the South Tama Middle School facility project team during the last of three public information sessions held on Feb. 22 at STC High School. The meetings were held from late January through February and laid out information and details of the $26.8 million Middle School facility project at the former Iowa Juvenile Home that is set to go before voters on March 1. Roughly a dozen members of the public were in attendance at the Feb. 22 meeting. Topics discussed included future plans for the IJH cottages, details around the existing gymnasium, loan financing and the refinancing of the 2017 high school project debt and the timeline for project completion. – Photo by Soren M. Peterson

– Chelsea Fire Station (707 Station St.): District residents in Richland Township, Salt Creek Township, the city of Chelsea, York Township, city of Vining and parts of Sheridan and Jefferson.

– Montour Community Building (104 E. Elm St.): Voters in Highland Township, Indian Village Township and the city of Montour.

– Tama Civic Center (305 Siegel St.): Voters in the city of Tama, Columbia Township, Tama Township and South Otter Creek Township.

– Toledo Reinig Center (1007 S Prospect Drive): Voters in the city of Toledo, Crystal Township, Carroll Township, Howard Township, Toledo Township and North Otter Creek Township.

– Meskwaki Tribal Center (349 Meskwaki Road, Tama): Voters who live in the Indian Settlement.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day at each of these locations.

Those who are unable to vote in person March 1 may also cast an absentee ballot at the Tama County Auditor’s Office during regular business hours. The last day to vote absentee is Monday, February 28, at 4:30 p.m.

The board has set a project budget of $26.8 million, including $15 million from General Obligation bonds, $9.8 million from sales tax bonds and $2 million from sales tax cash. Forty-four percent of the total project budget is scheduled from sales tax (not from property taxes).

If the bond is approved, the tax rate levy would drop from $2.70 to $2.06 per $1,000 of taxable valuation. For the owner of a home assessed at $100,000, this presents an annual reduction of $31.54 ($2.63 per month). Taxes would decline $339.41 annually ($28.28 per month) on the average value of 400 acres of agricultural land. These decreases are possible even with an approved bond vote, as the district will have paid off the debt associated with the elementary school.

More information on the South Tama bond issue is available online at www.southtamabond.org.