Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Long Range Facilities Plan. If you do not see the answer to your question, visit our Ask a Question page to submit your own.
Why is now the time to invest in the Facilities Plan?
There are several reasons why now is the time to invest in our schools. First and foremost, current and future generations of Duluth students deserve the best educational opportunities we can provide.
From a financial perspective, construction costs will only continue to increase the longer we wait. By investing now, while interest rates are low, we can lock in repayment costs for the next 20 years. In addition, investing in the entire plan now is much more cost efficient than a piecemeal approach to paying for individual projects here and there. In fact, the efficiencies achieved by investing in a comprehensive plan will result in $5.2 million in savings per year and will deliver more than two dollars in benefits for every dollar of new taxes invested in the Facilities Plan.
In addition to the educational, safety and financial benefits of investing in the Facilities Plan now, there are also economic benefits for the entire community. The Facilities Plan will create literally thousands of jobs right here in Duluth during a time when communities across the country are watching jobs slip away.