The Basalt Town Council has decided to support a fall funding measure by the Roaring Fork School District. Town Council members voted unanimously last week to endorse the $122 million bond question.
During the meeting, District officials explained the measure would, if passed, fund revamping parts of Basalt Middle School. A major issue there is crowding when parents are picking up or dropping off their kids. “I have a middle schooler, so I’m there often,” said Council member Rob Leavitt. “And I know we’ve tossed around a number of ideas on how to help the circulation, and the parking and the fields.” Leavitt asked District Superintendent Diana Sirko to make sure there’s clear information for voters about how the bond measure would solve those issues.
Sirko said the District has hired a traffic engineering firm to review all the options, and that a final plan would be nailed down if the bond measure passes. The $122 million would cover improvements at Basalt, Carbondale, and Glenwood schools; it would also include $15 million for affordable housing for teachers and administrators in those communities. If passed, the property tax increase would be about $22 a month for a home valued at approximately $500,000.
