The Grants Pass School District Seven Board discussed possible bond levy options during a board workshop today.

The district’s current levy, which costs taxpayers $1.37 per thousand dollars of assessed property value, is expiring and for capitol improvement projects the district wants to seek another levy for roughly $15.5 to $19 million. The money would be used to repair aging infrastructure such as ventilation systems, roofs, flooring and to buy additional technology that would be used as teaching materials.

Board members had greatly differing opinions on how much money would be needed, but they all felt the costs needed to be evaluated further.

Board Member Debbie Brownell thought voters would vote for the levy if the school board kept the taxes down as much as possible. Other board members agreed, but Board Member Gary Penning felt the district needed to ask for more funds than needed to guarantee the bills could be paid. He was especially concerned with a 2.5 percent contingency budget set aside for all projects. “I couldn’t in good faith vote for a budget that has a 2.5 percent contingency,” Penning said.

The board has until March 21 to finalize the levy proposal and deliver the paperwork to the County Clerk’s Office.