Early voting begins today in a special millage election for the Hot Springs School District, which is asking for an increase of 2 mills to construct a new multipurpose building at the high school and provide upgrades in technology throughout the district.
The district's current millage is 37.7. The increase would give Hot Springs the third-highest millage in Garland County, behind Lake Hamilton, 40.6, and Cutter Morning Star, 40.5.
The additional mills would be added to the 10.8 mills currently levied for debt service, paying down the $17.9 million principal from a 30-year bond issue. The measure would also extend the 10.8-mill tax through the life of the 2 new mills.
District voters approved the most recent increase in 2000.
"We are very hopeful that our patrons would consider approving our request for the 2-mill increase for our school and for our students," outgoing Hot Springs Superintendent Joyce Craft said.
Early voting will be held through Friday and May 11 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Garland County Election Commission Building, 649-A Ouachita Ave.
Election day voting on May 12 will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at three locations.
The three polling sites will be the district's central office, 400 Linwood Ave.; the Webb Community Center, 127 Pleasant St.; and Hot Springs High School, 701 Emory St.
The proposed multipurpose building would be on the east end of the Hot Springs High School campus and include a set of classrooms planned to feature innovative educational technology.
The building would house a gymnasium with enough seating to allow the school to host state tournaments in athletics.
The district said the building would also be available for community use and could host a number of other events, such as graduation ceremonies and academic competitions.
The basketball court would sit lower than the entrance level and be surrounded by seats on all sides.
The base of the building will be closer to the ground level of the football field. Officials envision a design with classrooms surrounding the lower level behind the bleachers connected by a continuous corridor.
A millage increase would also allow the district to obtain upgrades in technology at each of the schools. New equipment would include computers, furniture and tools.
The Hot Springs School District has one of the highest wealth indexes in the state despite more than 80 percent of its students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals.
The district would only be eligible for 0.5 percent of state partnership funding if its construction request is approved by the Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation Commission in 2016.
State Desk on 05/05/2015