School Board Chairman At-Large Milt Johns has expressed concern that once Prince William County Schools reaches its debt ceiling, it will have difficulty building new facilities.
In a statement to Bristow Beat, Johns said “I have read the comments about the 13th high school being in jeopardy due to the debt ceiling. I am very concerned about that situation.”
Evaluating the situation may lead to some reevaluating of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), according to Johns.
“If the 13th high school is in jeopardy, I believe we will need to look at scaling back or canceling other construction projects in the county. We may also need to 'value engineer' the 12th and 13th high schools,” Johns said.
Rumors of the potential issue first appeared Mar. 15 when local blogger “The Sheriff of Nottingham of Prince William County” posted what appeared to be an official correspondence between Superintendent of Schools Steven L. Walts and County Executive Melissa Peacor.
According to the letter, Board of County Supervisor John D. Jenkins of the Neabsco District asked Walts, “If the maximum tax bill increase is less than the 4 percent in the Proposed FY 2014 budget, will the three new high schools planned for 2016, 2019 and 2021 still be funded and built on time?”
Walts responded that the decreasing tax revenue could put the 13th high school in jeopardy.
“While the 12th high school remains under the ceiling, the debt necessary for the out-years of the CIP, including the 13th and 14th high schools, will likely cause the debt ceiling to be exceeded,” Walts wrote.
Walts’ letter details other consequences of reaching the debt ceiling, “A cut in county revenue will reduce funds available to pay for debt service on school bonds and/or operating expenses a reduction in revenue creates increasing challenges in being able to balance a five-year budget plan."
However, while Johns said the School Board could reevaluate schools on the CIP, it is unlikely they would consider canceling the construction of the 12th High School.
On the School Division website, PWCS assures residents that “The 12th High School—with or without a pool—will open in September, 2016...It is needed to accommodate a growing high school-age population."
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