WHITE HALL -- Voters in the White Hall School District will decide a 5.7-mill increase for construction and improvements Tuesday.
If passed, the new millage rate in White Hall would rise to 44.9 mills, up from 39.2 mills, and would mean a $114 annual increase in property taxes on a house with an appraised value of $100,000.
Money from the increase would fund more than $24 million in bonds to build a fine arts center, a multipurpose center and some renovations, according to district officials.
The district hasn't raised its millage rate since 2009, and White Hall Superintendent Larry Smith said improvements are vital to the district's future.
At more than 34,000 square feet, the proposed fine arts center would include a 1,200-seat auditorium with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, classrooms for band and choir, as well as a facade that would give the entire high school a new look.
"Right now, we really have no identifying front," Smith said. "The fine arts center will face Highway 256, making a proper front entrance for our school. We will also be redoing the main parking area as part of the project."
The school has never had an auditorium and relies on the cafeteria as the primary space for large gatherings or school meetings. Smith said White Hall First Baptist Church has allowed the school to use its space for choir concerts and other events, but the venue isn't large enough to accommodate bigger crowds.
Classrooms vacated by the band and choir would be used for workforce development courses, which are currently held off campus, Smith said.
The multipurpose center would include an indoor, 50-yard practice field to be used primarily for athletics and band practices. The proposal calls for more than 52,000 square feet of space for batting cages and dressing rooms for boys and girls, as well as office space. It would be built next to the south end zone of Bulldog Stadium.
Renovations would also include a new handicapped-accessible entrance to the high school gymnasium, new restrooms and a new concession stand for the gym.
While there is no organized opposition to the proposed millage increase, the topic came up recently at a Redfield City Council meeting. Redfield is part of the White Hall School District.
Redfield Alderman Darrell Hedden said he is urging people to vote against the proposal, saying that it amounts to "an advertising effort to attract people to move to White Hall." Hedden said patrons already "pay enough" to the White Hall district.
Some others in Redfield hold similar opinions.
Redfield resident Susan Tabor said she can't see funding something she will never use or see. She doesn't have children and said she already pays "dearly for facilities that seem just fine to me. It seems like everyone is asking for money these days. I just don't have any more to give."
Redfield resident Jason Tucker said the millage increase will likely be a hard sell to voters in his town.
"Many people just don't see the need for it," Tucker said. "And times are hard for many people. We aren't a rich community."
In White Hall, resident Donna Baker said she is all for the millage increase.
"Anything we can do to better our schools has to be a priority," Baker said. "We already have great schools, so why not try to make them even better?"
State Desk on 04/13/2015