LA JARA — The cost match for a new, more secure Centauri High School building has been lowered due to creative action by the school board.
The school building is aging and far exceeded its useful life, say proponents for the matching funds, which will be on the November ballot.
After discussion with the school board and in the best effort to assist in bringing the reality of obtaining a much-needed high school facility, $500,000 from reserves will be used, dropping the required match from 6.4 to 5.9 million.
This means North Conejos School District could obtain a new facility for 19 percent of the cost to replace the current school building
I n November 2019, voters in the district will be asked to approve the BEST Grant matching funds.

Tax impact
For residential property, the estimated tax impact per $100,000 in market value ($7,150 assessed value)  is $7.81per month.
For non-residential property (commercial, agriculture,.etc.), the estimated tax impact per $100,000 in market value ($29,000 assessed value) is $31.61 per month.

Why build now?
The BEST Grant is awarded annually on a competitive basis. If the district loses the grant, there is no guarantee that the district would receive the grant again.
The grant program will cover 80 percent of the cost of the new school.
Construction costs have increased at least five percent per year for the last several years.
At this same pace, in 10 years the same $30.6 million school will cost nearly $50 million.
Superintendent Curt Wilson points out, "Our students deserve a safe learning environment and our high school has far exceeded its useful life."