Election Day Aug. 2 is more than a political primary for Hickman Mills School District residents.

The district is asking voters to approve a $1.35 increase in the district’s operating levy and a $20 million no-tax-increase bond issue.

The ballot issues are needed to fuel Hickman Mills’ quest to become a “top tier” district in the Kansas City area, said Superintendent Yaw Obeng.

“We want to be the employer of choice in the area,” Obeng said in urging the school board to approve the election plans earlier this summer, according to the Martin City Telegraph.

The levy increase would allow the district to attract and keep more high-quality teachers by boosting the starting and mid-range teacher salaries that currently rank 11th out of 12 area school districts, the district reported. The increase would give Hickman Mills the highest starting salary and the 8th highest mid-range salaries.

The $20 million bond issue would help the district complete plans to renovate Burke school as a 6th Grade center to ease middle school crowding, support other renovations and improvements, improve security and provide needed storage capacity at schools and the district warehouse.

If approved, the bond issue would extend the life of the district’s current bond debt and would not increase the property tax rate. The bond issue would need a super majority of four-sevenths — or 57% — to pass.

The levy increase of $1.35 would result in an annual property tax increase of $256.50 on a $100,000 home. The levy needs a simple majority to pass.

Hickman Mills is hoping to continue the momentum it gained in August 2020 when more than 80% of the voters approved a $30 million bond issue to take on what a 2019 building needs assessment said is more than $100 million in needed repairs and upgrades.

The 2020 bond issue also extended current bond debt without increasing the property tax rate.