108B LB1063 LPS Testimony

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

Recent LPS testimony

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Testimony on LB528 to Change and eliminate provisions relating to grants from the State Department of Education Improvement Grant Fund by Interim Superintendent, Dr. John Skretta

109A LB497

Testimony on LB497 to Provide for admission of and participation in extracurricular activities by certain students that are not residents of the school district by Interim Superintendent, Dr. John Skretta

109A LB463

Testimony on LB463 to Require school districts to develop a cardiac emergency response plan under the School Safety and Security Reporting Act and provide for grants for such plans from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund by Director of Health Services, Wendy Rau

109A LB557

Testimony on LB557 to Change provisions relating to the enrollment option program, provide funding to students denied option enrollment, and eliminate provisions relating to open enrollment option students and diversity plans by Interim Superintendent, John Skretta

109A LB549

Testimony on LB549 to Allow a school board to employ a chaplain, including in a volunteer capacity, at a school by Interim Superintendent, John Skretta