1. What the Ballot Questions Authorize

• There are two bond questions:

• Question 1: ~$30 million for core facilities and infrastructure (roofs, HVAC, security, parking, track, tennis courts, CTE space).

• Question 2: ~$5 million for athletic field enhancements.

• Question 2 only goes on the ballot if Question 1 passes. That means voters cannot approve athletic upgrades without also approving the core package.

2. Taxes Are Not Guaranteed to Stay the Same

•  District financial presentations say the $30M base package could be structured without increasing the current bond and interest mill   levy. This is a possibility scenario from financial advisors, not a tax rate written into the ballot language.  

•  Ballot language does not include a fixed cap on how high the mill levy can go to repay the bonds. Kansas law gives the Board   authority to structure final terms after voters approve the debt.  

•  District estimates show that if both questions pass (total $35M), the mill levy may be higher than current levels.  

•  Bottom line: The ballot doesn’t legally guarantee a tax rate — the district decides repayment terms later.

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3. Proposed Tax Offset Is Not Part of the Bond

• District leaders have described a separate idea: eliminating a COLA (Cost-of-Living Adjustment) mill levy to offset bond costs. But change is not part of the bond questions on the ballot and would require a separate Board action after the election.  

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Bottom line: The offset is not automatic or legally tied to bond approval.

 

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4. Voters Can’t Separate Repairs from Turf

    •    The bond language places the athletic turf projects in a second question that is contingent on the passage of the first question.  

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Bottom line: Voters must vote yes/no on both parts together; there is no stand alone turf option on the ballot.

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5. Field Turf Has Shorter Lifespan and Future Cost​

• Artificial turf generally lasts about 8–10 years and must be fully replaced at the end of its lifespan. Replacement costs can be significant and are typically not included in initial bond funding. (General industry practice — widely reported in facilities planning guides; not specific to USD 469 documents.)

 

Bottom line: Turf projects have known future replacement costs that are not funded by this bond.

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6. Turf Doesn’t Eliminate All Weather-Related Cancellations

•  Artificial turf can improve playability in wet conditions, but it does not prevent cancellations due to heat, lightning, ice, or other unsafe weather conditions. (This is a known limitation of turf surfaces based on standard usage and facility guidelines and widely acknowledged in athletic facility planning; specific USD 469 documents do not claim full weather immunity.)

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7. Bond Debt Remains Even If Tax Terms Change

• Once voters authorize a bond issue, the district has legal authority to issue the debt up to the authorized amount. It remains a binding obligation regardless of how taxes are structured later. Kansas statutes confirm that the board’s resolution and voter approval authorize the district to issue bonds for the stated purposes.  

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Bottom line: Approved bond authority cannot be rescinded by taxpayers later; repayment terms are determined subsequently.

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Summary — Key Factual Points

 

✔ There are two questions; Q2 is contingent on Q1 passing.  

✔ The ballot does not guarantee you won’t pay a higher mill levy.  

✔ Tax offsets like eliminating other levies are not included on the ballot.  

✔ Turf replacement costs will occur in the future. (Standard facility practice)

✔ Turf does not make weather cancellations impossible. (General athletic facility knowledge)

✔ The district can structure bond repayment after approval.

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Sources

    1.    Lansing USD 469 – Bond Proposal Overview & Ballot Structure

Lansing USD 469, Bond Proposal Information / Board Articles

https://www.usd469.net/article/2555875

    2.    Lansing USD 469 – Potential Bond Initiative & Tax Scenarios

Lansing USD 469, Potential Bond Initiative

https://www.usd469.net/page/potential-bond-initiative

    3.    Kansas Statutes – School District Bond Authority & Repayment

Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.) 72-54,0057

Kansas Revisor of Statutes

https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch72/072_054_0057.html

    4.    Artificial Turf Lifespan and Replacement Cycle (Industry Standard)

    •    Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) – Synthetic Turf Guidance

    •    American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) – Synthetic Turf Systems

(Both organizations consistently cite an 8–10 year lifespan requiring full replacement)

    5.    Weather Limitations of Artificial Turf

    •    National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

    •    OSHA & athletic safety guidance on lightning and heat exposure

(Artificial turf does not prevent cancellations due to lightning, extreme heat, snow, or ice)