After reviewing the "voter information" brochure, I find there is no compelling reason to vote for the Murray school bond.
There are, however, reasons to vote against the issuance of the bonds. First and foremost, the Murray School population is declining. Last school season, there was a 3 percent drop in student population, and it is projected there will be similar losses in the coming years. Murray's population is getting older, and the families are smaller. Murray has very little land that will be developed for residential use and no prospect for future annexation.There is no question the school needs remodeling. Highland High School, built about the same time, recently has gone through a successful retrofit at a much-reduced cost to what a new building would be. Within the last 10 years, Murray City School District has spent a large sum remodeling the auditorium and the swimming pool area. This would be lost with the demolition of the existing building.
It is important that those who are not in favor of the "bond election" get out and vote against the bond on May 2. We can't sit at home and say it doesn't matter and it won't effect me. It does matter and it will effect you.
Norm Nielsen
Murray