Proposed changes to Hammer Complex and an expansion of the Halverson Elementary School gym could be completed without a tax increase for Albert Lea residents, according to the Albert Lea Area Schools deputy superintendent.

Lori Volz said Tuesday as old debt drops off from the previous bond, the potential future bond would replace it in a wraparound move that would neither increase nor decrease taxes for taxpayers. This is a decrease in the projection Volz shared at the Dec. 18 meeting.

To finance the project, Albert Lea Superintendent Mike Funk said there would need to be a special election to approve a 20-year general obligation school building bond. Including the $4 million necessary to expand the Halverson Elementary School gym, Volz said the project’s tab would run an estimated $22.3 million.

“In my opinion, this idea obviously is coming from many levels … but I think the community really has to be outspoken in their support of this or it won’t fly,” school board member Neal Skaar said of the proposed bond.

For construction to begin in April 2019, Volz said the necessary timeline would call for a special election May 8.

“In all reality, we really need to have May 8 be the day for the vote in order to get the best pricing as we go through the process for the expense of the project,” Volz said.

Statistically, board member Jill Marin said having a special election rather than a general one would be beneficial for the school board: Funk cited a 15 percent increase in the likelihood of success with a special election.

Funk said Halverson’s gym update would allow more opportunities for after-school programming through the winter.

“Halverson’s gym is very tight,” Funk said.

Currently, the district’s only full-size elementary gym is at Hawthorne Elementary School.

Additionally, the gym’s expansion would include a relocation of Halverson’s front office, which Funk said could increase the security of the building. He said they have not considered the effect this expansion would have on Halverson’s playground, but that the playground now is “robust.”

In other action:

The board re-elected all of the school board positions. Ken Petersen will remain on as school board chairman, Dave Klatt will continue as vice chairman, Mark Ciota will spend another year as treasurer and Neal Skaar will stay as clerk for 2018.