$12 million bond vote passes for Colfax-Mingo

With 76 percent of the vote, the bond referendum for the Colfax-Mingo Community School District overwhelmingly passed in the Tuesday election. Of the more then 1,000 votes that were cast, 778 were in favor of the bond while 237 voted against the measure.

Funds from the bond are proposed to be used for upgrades and improvements in the district including the building of a new football stadium and construction of new facilities, among other projects and ideas.

“Both current and future students of Colfax-Mingo are going to be benefiting from this vote today ... There is just going to be many opportunities that our kids haven’t had before that they aren’t even aware of,” Colfax-Mingo Superintendent Erik Anderson said.

Colfax-Mingo Community School District members came out to vote on the bond issue to decide whether the school district could move forward with their plans. The school board facilitated the education of the public with the help of the KIDS committee.

“I think the education of the public went very well,” Anderson said.

The bond passed handily with more than 75 percent of voters in favor. Not only did it pass but more than one thousand voters came out to have their say in the bond election and the future of the Colfax-Mingo Community School District.

“A lot of excitement but also a lot of gratitude,” Anderson said.

With the approval, the Colfax-Mingo Community School District will be able to move forward with its plans for upgrades and improvements. Among them include a new 1,200 seat stadium that would be for multiple sports and activities. It would also include a new 1,000 seat gym, a new three-mat wrestling room and a new weight and fitness room, but that is just the first phase of a 15-year plan.

The school board gave presentations at school events about the plans for these along with others including a weight and fitness room, a new parking lot and their breakdown with the money being spent and where it will all fit on the land.

The general obligation bond covers what Anderson mentioned but the 15-year plan includes more upgrades to facilities. These upgrades would also use SAVE funds, money for the district from the 1-cent sales tax Colfax-Mingo voters recently voted yes on the Revenue Purpose Statement allowing the school more freedom to use it.

For more information about the plans, visit the school's Facebook page at facebook.com/ColfaxMingoKIDS/.

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com