Tips to Pass a School Bond Election by Phil Hartman
Posted by Cory Anderson on Mon, Dec 12, 2011 @ 02:50 PM
I have found that there’s not a single formula to passing a school bond vote. Every community is different in regard to their support of their school district, so each campaign needs to be tweaked and managed. However, I have discovered a couple of tactics over the years as a School Facility Consultant on how to give every bond campaign a better chance for success.
First, the most important aspect of a successful millage election is staff and community involvement in the planning process. With that said, the likelihood of the passage of a millage proposal is determined days and even months prior to the election. The development of the bond proposal, the inclusion of groups that will be affected by it, along with the marketing plan and execution are all key ingredients that will help lead to a successful election.
Another key is to focus on the “yes” voters rather than spending your budget or energy on converting the “no” voters. Then help the “yes” voters by reminding them of registration deadlines, and when and where to vote.
Sometimes Districts can qualify for state and federal funding programs to help supplement building projects. By qualifying for the additional funding, School Districts were able to ask voters to approve smaller bond amounts while securing enough budget to complete their construction needs. Bond elections pass as voters recognize the savings to their District’s general fund to help maintain safety and educational programs.
Over the past three years, 24 of the 31 School Districts that Wolgast has worked with have experienced a successful bond campaign. To find out more about the funding programs or to have a free seminar with our School Facility Consultants regarding “Steps for Planning a School Construction Project”, please contact Phil Hartman at phil@wolgast.com.