Voters approve bond extension

PRESCOTT – Voters in the Prescott School District voted overwhelmingly in favor of allowing the district to extend its bonded indebtedness in a special election Tuesday.

The overall vote was 262 for and 68 against the measure. In early voting the ballots showed 66 for and 32 against while it was closer in absentee voting, 13-11. Slightly more than 200 people went to Prescott High School Tuesday to cast their ballots. When all was said and done there, the tally was 183-25.

Robert Poole, district superintendent, thanked the patrons for their vote and in supporting the school. The real winners, he said, were the students because they’re the ones who will be taking advantage of the changes and upgrades planned. “They deserve this. It’s all about the students.”

As it was pointed out, this is not a millage increase and no one’s property taxes will be raised. The bonds the district currently owe will now be paid off and new bonds sold. This will generate $873,500 for the proposed projects once the current bonds are paid off.

The money will be used to put a new roof on PHS. The Arkansas Department of Education will be picking up 65 percent of the cost of the new roof under the district’s approved facilities upgrade plan. The rest of the money will be used to air condition the Prescott Sports Arena, purchase new seating for the PHS auditorium and buy more security cameras for the different buildings in the district.

However, the district’s new bonded indebtedness will be extended another 10 years, or to 2047.