Questions & Answers

Who is eligible to vote on this bond proposal?

All registered voters who live within the school district boundaries can vote on this bond proposal.

Will this bond proposal increase current tax rates?

No, there will be no tax rate increase. The district plans to redirect the funds already being levied in the Special Building Fund (the same amount it has been collecting historically) to pay for this project. Starting in 2026, the proposed levy will be set at:

General Fund 54.92¢
Special Building 11.57¢
Bond Fund 9.83¢

Beginning in 2035, the high school bond fund will drop to zero. Taxpayers also receive LB1107 credits from the state of Nebraska. The current tax credit amounts to 30% of school property taxes in the General and Special Building Fund. Since the proposed bonds will be paid out of the Special Building Fund, the 30% tax credit also applies to these, further lowering out-of-pocket costs.

How long will this bond be active, and how many years remain on the current high school bond?

If the School District’s assessed valuation remains flat for the next 20 years, the proposed new bonds will be paid off on 12/15/2046. If the district’s valuation were to increase annually at a very modest 3.00% growth rate, the new bonds would be paid off on 12/15/2041.

The high school bonds originally required a levy of 12¢; however, that amount has continued to drop over time. The high school bond is scheduled to be paid off on 12/15/2034. The current TOTAL tax levy of 76.32¢ for 2025-2026 is expected to drop to 66.49¢ by 2035 (a 12.88% decrease).

What happens to taxes after the bond is paid off in 2034?

After 2034, the bond portion drops to zero. Only the General Fund and Special Building Fund levies remain (both eligible for the 30% state LB1107 tax credits). This means lower taxes after the bond is paid off.

Why use bonds instead of saving up money to build the school?

The school district has saved money for this project, but due to levy restrictions, they are unable to generate enough funds to cover the entire project. If the school district were to continue to “save up” to pay for this project, the cost would rise considerably over time due to construction inflation. This financing method has the potential to save taxpayers millions of dollars and enables the state to cover a significant portion of the building project through LB1107 credits.

Why do we need an election if the facility project won't increase our tax rate?

The board of education believes an election serves several important purposes. First, if the community approves the bond, the project will qualify for considerably lower interest rates. This will save the taxpayers a significant amount of money on interest expense over the life of the bonds. Second, an election ensures residents have more opportunities to become informed about the facility improvements. When residents actively participate in decisions about their schools and community facilities, it fosters a sense of ownership and pride in these important public investments.

What is the total amount of the proposed bond?

The amount on the ballot is for $27,285,000 in revenue bonds.

What is the official ballot language?

A vote for approves the bond, and a vote against rejects it.

"Shall Kearney County School District 0503 (Minden Public Schools) in the State of Nebraska (the "District") issue general obligation bonds of the District in an aggregate stated principal amount not to exceed Twenty-Seven Million Two Hundred Eighty-Five Thousand Dollars ($27,285,000), for the purpose of providing funds to pay the costs of construction and acquisition of a new elementary school building, site and public infrastructure improvements, modifications to the District's existing buildings and facilities, and providing for the necessary furniture, equipment and apparatus for such buildings and facilities of the District; such bonds to be issued from time to time, to bear interest at such rate or rates, to be sold at such prices and to become due at such time or times as may be fixed by, or determined at the direction of, the Board of Education; and

"Shall the District cause to be levied and collected annually a special levy of taxes against all the taxable property in the District, sufficient in rate and amount to pay the principal of and interest on such bonds as the same become due?"

What work has been completed since the last bond election?

Since the last election, we’ve added an additional 100 parking spots at the high school and improved traffic flow going west from the high school at the same time. At the middle school, we have built a secure entrance and completed a remodel that included electrical updates, roof upgrades, boiler upgrades, a conference room, lockers, doors, a nurse’s room, administration offices, a study area, a remodeled gym, and other finishes. Minden Public Schools successfully completed both projects in the summers of 2024 and 2025. The school district has also conducted traffic, utility, and site surveys to provide a better understanding of the middle and high school area.

How does this project differ from the last bond proposal?

Two years ago, we did not have the financial options that we have today. We are able to complete this project with no tax rate increase. The LB1107 credits did not exist the way they are done today. We no longer need to work on the middle school entrance or additional parking. We have also saved up funds to help offset initial costs for the elementary school. We have streamlined the elementary building for a better line of sight across the building, reduced the courtyard, and have contractors and companies actively seeking work.

Is this the right time for a facilities project?

This is a great time, as the district is in a unique position to address our urgent facility needs without a tax rate increase. The new state legislation, LB1107, will now give our property taxpayers 30% tax credits. If the bond passes, we have the ability to reduce our interest rate and save tax dollars in the long run.

What is LB1107?

Nebraska LB1107 automatically applies a tax credit to property tax bills for 30% of the school district property taxes paid. This bill directly lowers the amount of property taxes and shifts the tax savings from a future refund to an upfront discount.

What spaces are planned for wrestling?

The new facility will include a new additional wrestling area and locker rooms in addition to the existing wrestling area at the middle school.

What is the purpose of the large open space east of the proposed media center, and could the design be made more space-efficient?

This space is a courtyard that has been reduced in size by 50% compared to the previous bond proposal. The courtyard serves several purposes: it brings natural light into the adjoining classroons and indoor spaces, provides an outdoor eating area for lunch on nice days, and creates an outdoor classroom space for special education, music, and media center activities.

What are the roof design specifications, particularly regarding slope for proper drainage?

The roof on the new building will have a slope as well as drainage systems with visible indicators to show if water isn’t draining properly.

How is the new elementary parking lot designed for safety, traffic flow and drop-off? How many total parking spaces are available?

The parking area at the elementary school is designed to keep cars off the street when picking up and dropping off, and it features multiple exits.

Currently, there are 120 parking spaces total (64 north, 56 south) on Park Street. The new plan adds much more parking:

Current spaces: 237 total (52 at north teacher lot + 185 at high school lots)
New spaces being added: 92 at north elementary + 103 at south elementary (195 parking spots at new elementary)
Total parking spaces: 432 + 48 street parking spots on 3rd Street for a total of 480

This is enough for 137 staff members and 332 students (grades 8-12) who might drive to school. Increasing the available spaces in the high school parking lot and providing access to Sears Street shifted traffic to the west, reducing the amount of traffic on 3rd Street.

What are the advantages of having a single K-12 campus for safety?

A unified K-12 campus provides several safety benefits: One School Resource Officer and Nurse can oversee all buildings with 2-3 minute response times, centralized emergency response makes lockdowns and evacuations simpler, shared storm shelters and safety systems eliminate duplication, unified communication systems ensure consistent emergency protocols, better supervision of shared events and outdoor activities, and if one building is damaged, the other can serve as an evacuation site during repairs.

Why is the new building layout better than the current elementary school?

The new design groups classrooms by grade level (K-3) with preschool and resource areas located near the administration for improved supervision. Shared spaces, such as the media center, gym, music room, and cafeteria, are conveniently located for easy access. There’s a single secure entry point with administrative offices at the front (compared to East Elementary’s multiple access points), areas planned for future additions to avoid patchwork expansions, and a unified design that reduces maintenance costs by minimizing rooflines and mechanical systems.

Why not renovate East Elementary instead of building new?

The district has already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on East Elementary for repairs, including tuckpointing and multiple roof projects, but the building still experiences structural and accessibility issues. The building has eight major issues: needs a more secure entrance, a larger preschool space, better special education facilities, gym floor and ceiling replacement, a second floor that is not accessible for people with disabilities, interventions happen in hallways instead of proper rooms, no private spaces for students, and poor internet service that struggles during harvest season. Safety concerns include the absence of a fire suppression system on the main floor, the basement's inadvisability as a tornado shelter, and the lack of options to renovate the existing structure to bring it up to code for either ADA or safety standards. Renovating would cost millions of dollars, but still wouldn’t make the building large enough or meet current needs.

Who decides the future of the East Elementary building if the bond passes?

The board will request proposals from community members and developers. This process will allow them to review various plans and select a proposal that benefits the community most. The goal is to find a new use for the building that aligns with the community's needs and vision.

How will water drainage problems be prevented, especially considering past flooding at the high school?

The drainage problems at the high school have already been fixed. The new elementary school will be built 10 feet higher than the existing high school. The building will be designed so that rainwater flows away from the high school building properly.

How many students can the new building serve compared to the current building?

The current elementary building can accommodate approximately 50 to 54 students per grade level. The new building can hold 75 students per grade level. This is 42% more students than the current building can handle.

Why was the preschool moved to East Elementary in 2021-2022, and what are the plans for preschool in the new building?

State law requires 35 square feet of space for each preschool child. Moving to East Elementary provided more space, allowing six more students to join the program. Currently, more than 20 students are on a waiting list for preschool. The new building would have rooms for 20-25 preschool students, depending on whether they attend full-day or half-day programs.

Here is more information about Minden's Preschool and how we compare to similar schools within Nebraska.

How does removing the Activities Building affect gym space for sports and activities?

Removing the Activities Building means losing one basketball court. However, the new elementary gym will be a full-size high school competition court that can be divided into smaller courts. This creates two new courts, resulting in a total of one more court than before.

What funding sources besides bonds and taxes can be used for this project?

The school district will pursue grants that are available for the storm shelter, early childhood facilities, and energy-efficient systems.

Are the building plans available online? Do the Pre-K classrooms include their own bathrooms?

This question was paraphrased from a community submission.

In the final design of the elementary school, bathrooms will be located in the preschool and kindergarten areas. The initial plans that have been created are conceptual layouts that address space needs and program fit. These high-level, preliminary layouts provide enough detail to create a budget and verify the feasibility of this approach. After the bond is approved, the detailed design would proceed with direct input from teachers, staff, and administrators.