Bond 2026
Hickman Mills C-1 School District serves approximately 5,200 students in grades Pre-K through 12. On April 7, 2026, two no-tax-increase bond questions will appear on the ballot.
The ballot includes two separate questions related to district finances. If passed, both questions are structured to maintain the current tax rate.
Question 1 would authorize the district to issue bonds for facility-related purposes, including major repairs, safety improvements, and the repayment of existing facility debt. The measure would provide approximately $1.4 million annually for building-related needs while maintaining the current tax rate.
Question 2 would reallocate 30 cents of the existing tax levy from the debt service fund to the operating fund. This change would provide approximately $2 million annually for operational expenses, including staffing and daily district operations, without increasing taxes.
Together, the two questions address facility and operational funding within the district’s existing tax structure.
How a "No-Tax-Increase" Bond Works
A no-tax-increase bond allows a school district to issue new bonds for facility and capital needs while maintaining the existing debt service tax rate.
As older bond issues are paid down, the capacity within the district’s existing debt service levy becomes available. The district may then use that available capacity to issue new bonds, provided the total debt remains within the current tax rate.
This process is similar to how a line of credit functions:
- The district issued bonds in the past to fund school projects.
- Those bonds have been repaid over time using the debt service levy.
- As the outstanding debt is reduced, capacity becomes available.
- New bonds may be issued within that same levy without increasing the tax rate.
Under this structure, the district continues using the same property tax rate currently dedicated to school debt repayment.
Ballot Questions and Tax Rate Impact - NO-TAX-INCREASE
There are two separate bond questions on the ballot.
- Each question addresses specific financial and facility needs of the district.
- If both questions pass, the district’s current debt service tax rate is expected to remain unchanged.
The intent of the bond questions is to address district needs while maintaining the existing tax rate paid by property owners.