January 23, 2024
Sen. Dave Murman, Chairperson
Sen. Joni Albrecht
Sen. Danielle Conrad
Sen. Lou Ann Linehan
Sen. Fred Meyer
Sen. Rita Sanders
Sen. Lynne Walz
Sen. Justin Wayne
The Lincoln Public School District submits this letter in opposition to LB 1063. LB 1063 requires a school board to submit expenditures in excess of $250,000 from the special building fund to a vote of the people. The special building fund serves a critical role in maintaining the taxpayer investment in school buildings across the state. In addition, school districts rely on the special building fund to address facility emergencies.
The Lincoln Public School District maintains 81 facilities; over eight million square feet and sites spanning over 1,167 acres. It is imperative to maintain a thoughtful lifecycle plan. Facilities become more costly if they are not well maintained and the burden on taxpayers would increase over time.
The special building fund is used for roof replacements, HVAC & electrical equipment replacements, caulking & sealants, parking lot overlays, etc. It is also used for physical plant modifications to accommodate more specific personal barriers for special needs students, and the staff that serve them. For the Lincoln Public School District, individual expenditures can easily exceed $250,000 on a monthly basis. Well-functioning HVAC systems, non-leaky roofs, and accommodating facilities matter in ensuring schools are functional and safe to promote student learning.
Seeking a vote of the people would create significant burdens. The timing of elections and timing of the need for repairs would not align. Elections are costly and would impact funding available for critical school facility maintenance. The school district would need to educate the voters on each major project such as a roof replacement or major equipment replacement which would take time and administrative staff.
LB 1063 would decrease the quality of school facilities and increase the burden on taxpayers.
Sincerely,
Scott Wieskamp
Director of Operations
Lincoln Public Schools
