School district may ask to up property taxes

Truckee voters may soon have to decide whether to dig into their pockets to fund upgrades to Truckee schools.

The district’s board of trustees, in a special meeting tonight, will consider holding a special election in June to ask voters to approve an estimated $93 million in property tax funding for improvements to Truckee High and Truckee Elementary schools, according to district documents.

The funding would be raised from extra assessments on Truckee properties, said the district’s Director of Facilities John Britto in an e-mail.

The district is split into two areas, one that covers Truckee voters and schools and one that covers North Tahoe schools and voters, according to Britto. This bond would only affect Truckee schools and voters, he said.

“The bond is more focused on renovating buildings, improving educational offerings with improved technology and career tech facilities, and recovering from past growth in the Truckee area,” Britto said by e-mail.

He said the district has met with community members and conducted surveys to develop the current plan of projects that will bring the district closer to realizing their overall master plan for all facilities in the district. That plan was adopted in August 2007.

Highlights for school upgrades would include a classroom wing at Truckee High School to replace portable buildings, a new vocational education space, and new media technology area, Britto said.

In addition, Truckee elementary would see more space for “turf and hard court play areas and parking and traffic circulation,” Britto said.

To make room for the school expansions, the district offices would be demolished and housed temporarily in the expanded school space.

Grant Steunenberg, Vice Principal at Truckee High, welcomed the news that the school’s portables might be replaced with a permanent classroom wing. The opportunity to move students into a “regular” classroom is positive, he said.