Denison residents are heading to the polls today (Tuesday) to vote on a scaled-back five-million dollar bond issue to build a new middle school. The district tried to pass an 11-point-seven million dollar bond issue for a new school in March which was easily defeated. Denison superintendent Mike Pardun outlines the latest proposal.

The 79-thousand square foot building would house sixth through eighth graders. Denison School District business manager Larry Struck explains how the bond issue would affect local property owners. A 50-thousand dollar home would see its taxes go up 29-dollars a year. For a 100-thousand dollar home, taxes would go up about 65-dollars. Struck says a substantial amount of time has been spent trying to secure the area of land where the school would be built.

The total cost for the project is estimated at nine-million dollars. If the bond issue is approved, the remaining four-million would be paid for through the district’s existing school infrastructure local option sales tax. A 60-percent approval margin is needed for the bond issue to pass.