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2026 JCC PK-8 Bond

October 12, 2026

 

Johnson County Central Public School District residents will vote on a $35,000,000 bond issue proposed for a PreK-8th Grade Facility at the General Election on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026.


Following extensive discussions, research, and years of listening to community feedback, the Board of Education will plan for a PreK-8th grade facility to be built on the 52 acres north of the existing football field in Tecumseh, Nebraska following a successful bond initiative in November 2026. The project is expected to cost Thirty-One Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($31.8 million), however due to anticipated inflation will not exceed Thirty-Five Million Dollars ($35 million). The board, administration, and Clark-Enersen representatives are still in the planning stages of what is to be included.  In addition to necessary classrooms and office space items being considered include: gym space, performing arts stage and a wrestling room.

High school programming will continue to operate out of the current high school building.  Continued renovations will be required over the next two to three years to bring the building up to code (i.e. secure entries, Americans With Disabilities compliance, etc.).

TOTAL Dollars to be Saved By Operating at One Site
$2.08 million/year

Or 
$52 million/25 years


How?  By Eliminating the Following Inefficiencies of Operating Two Sites

Staffing

  • Absorb 1 administrator ($156,000)
  • Absorb 1 office staff. ($67,000)
  • Absorb 1 custodial staff. ($62,000)
  • Absorb 1 medical staff. ($90,000)
  • Absorb 1.5 teaching staff. ($150,000)
  • Financial loss due to staff travel ($75,000)
  • TOTAL = $600,000/year AND $15,000,000 over 25 years (the life of the bond)

Maintenance & Utilities

  • Utilities - Move from OPPD to City of Tecumseh Utilities.
  • Move from propane to natural gas.
  • Move from 3 buildings to 2.
  • Total = $100,000/year AND $2,500,000 over 25 years (the life of the bond)
  • *$5 Million spent in the last 3 years on repairs to the facilities.
  • **$3.3 Million on the high school in Summer 2026.

Transportation

  • Eliminate three shuttles.
  • TOTAL = $50,000/year AND $1,250,000 over 25 years (the life of the bond)
    • This does not include “wear and tear” and general maintenance on the buses.

Building/QCPUF Fund Utilization

  • Current Tax Asking to Maintain, Repair & Renovate Current Facilities (these numbers increase with valuations)
    • Building Fund at 10¢ ($1,195,000)
    • QCPUF at 3¢ ($358,500)
  • TOTAL = $1,553,500 AND $38,837,500 over 25 years (the life of the bond)

How much is saved?

$52 million or $57 million?

JCC’s current spending trajectory will result in $57 million spent on inefficiencies over the next 25 years.

A successful bond will result in $52 million in savings over the same period.

These numbers differ, as during the first two years of bond payments, we will still need to utilize the Special Building Fund and the QCPUF for High School Renovations.  There will be a two year overlap.

Two years of bond payments equates to $5 million, subtracted from the overall inefficiencies of $57 million is $52 million.

$57 million inefficiencies
- $5 million (first two years of bond payments overlapping with last two years of maximizing SBF & QCPUF)
    —-----------------------------------
$52 million in savings
Total Tax Asking on Current Path vs Total Tax Asking with A Successful Bond


Proposed Bond: $35 Million Over a 25 Year Term

What is different about this bond from the prior bonds?

  • Decrease In Size
    • Prior bonds were for a single Pre-K to 12th grade building (125,700 sq ft and 130,000 sq ft)
    • Current - Pre-K to 8th grade building (71,000 sq ft)
  • Decrease Scope
    • Build a “Pre-K through 8th grade” facility utilizing a construction bond.
  • Bring the existing high school up to code utilizing the building fund.
  • Change In Location
    • Locate the building farther south (closer to the track/football field) to minimize dirt work.
  • One level structure to eliminate elevators or lifts.

Massing:

JCC Massing Diagram

Site Overview:

JCC Site Overview

Flood Plain Map:

Flood Plain Map

Our Core Problem: Operating Inefficiencies

  • Staffing
  • Maintenance & Utilities
  • Transportation
  • Constraints of building & QCPUF fund utilization

Current Facilities:
JCC Elementary PK-3 (Tecumseh)
- 1931

Current Photo of JCC Elementary PK-3 (Tecumseh) Building

JCC High School (Tecumseh) - 1966

Current Photo of JCC High School (Tecumseh) Building

JCC Middle School 4-8 (Cook) - 1958
1999 bond to update and expand, $3.4 million.

Current Photo of JCC Middle School 4-8 (Cook) Building

 


Bond - Calculate Your Impact

The figures below calculate only the tax impact of the bond.  The figures do not include the savings to be realized by eliminating the operating inefficiencies stated previously and dropping the Building Fund by $0.10 and the QCPUF by $0.03.