A bond issue for a new junior high school in Mandan will not be submitted to voters until fall at the earliest. A good part of the reason is recent taxpayer unhappiness in Mandan over taxes and special assessments. Early last fall, the school board was talking about a vote in March or April. Then came disclosure of special assessments on the Old Red Trail roadbuilding project that were much higher than advertised. And a bitter election for state senator that probably turned on the issue of local taxes.
Timing becomes a big issue.
So does having just the right plan. Fitterer should be back with more in March and, based on board choices made at that time, with a design in April. Roll thinks that's when the board will decide if it has the package it wants and, if so, set the date for a vote. Mandan voters were very good to the school district in the 1990s, approving a new elementary school in 1992 and a big renovation package for the other elementary schools and the high school in 1996. Clearly, the board would not want to do anything to sour a good relationship.