September 14 , 2010
By THE DES MOINES REGISTER
Ankeny’s next elementary school could now be paid for with state sales tax revenue rather than money from a bond issue, school district officials said Monday.
Voters defeated a bond proposal for Prairie Trail Elementary School in a September 2009 referendum; a date for a second vote had not been set.
However, because of $5.5 million in savings on construction costs for Ankeny Centennial High School and refined estimates for the sales tax revenue, officials said they would be able cover the estimated $14million needed to build the elementary school.
“This is outstanding,” school board President Andrew Martin said after a meeting Monday.
Plans call for taking bids this fall and starting construction in the spring, with Prairie Trail to open in August 2012.
District officials also noted which school renovations and other projects are now projected to be paid for with sales tax revenue through the 2016-17 year. Board members will vote on those recommendations next week.
The district’s plans already allow sales tax revenue to be used build the new elementary school.
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