Residents in Monette, Leachville, and Black Oak are voting today to pass a 7 mill increase for the Buffalo Island Consolidated School District.
The district has tried twice to pass a 9 mill increase for improvements to the school since 2014. Buffalo Island Superintendent Gaylon Taylor says he’s optimistic that asking for a smaller increase is a win-win for the community and the district:
Taylor says Buffalo Island has the lowest millage rate in Craighead County at 33 mills. If the 7 mill increase passes, the district will build a new K-6 school in Leachville and a 7th-12th grade school in Monette--a project estimated to cost $18 million.
Mayor of Monette Jerry “Chubb” Qualls says he hopes voters will look at the benefits of the project and be willing to move forward.
The district has also applied for partnership funding in which the state will fund up to 52% of the project—which is about $9.3 million —leaving the district to fund about $8.6 million of the project.