FAQ about Propositions I & N

Proposition I would allow the district to borrow $42 million in bonds to pay for major school maintenance and repair projects. Specifically, projects would include:

Building Improvements

• HVAC replacements and upgrades at all schools
• Window replacement at all elementary schools
• Building tuck-pointing
• Asbestos abatement

Safety & Learning Environment

• Safety and security improvements
• Furniture updates in all schools where needed

School/Building Renovations

• School for Early Childhood Education playground updates
• Buder Elementary cafeteria renovation
• Wyland Elementary gymnasium and library renovations
• Ritenour Middle School classroom renovations
• Husky Support Center improvements
• Administrative Center Board of Education Room audio/visual and room renovations

Other

• Moving payments of bond debt currently being made from general revenue to making those payments from the debt service fund. This frees up dollars for educational programs and students' needs. It can be done with zero change in the district’s overall tax rate. 

Ritenour has nearly one million square feet of school facilities with a replacement value of more than $320 million.  The average age of a Ritenour school is 77 years!  These buildings are safe and well-constructed, but require extensive ongoing maintenance, repair and renovation, just like our homes.  Ritenour has a responsibility to ensure these facilities are properly maintained for future generations of students.  Ritenour has a history of working with the community to protect our schools and we must continue to protect the value of the buildings in our district.  

Because of solid financial management and a recent increase in property values, if Props I and N are approved, Ritenour can make these repairs and renovations without raising the tax rate for district residents. 

A bond issue is a traditional way for schools to borrow money to pay for major school maintenance and repair projects, such as replacing HVAC units or windows, or making upgrades to worn-out areas.

Bond issues allow schools to pay for costly repairs and renovations over time instead of having to pay all at once. They also allow schools to devote most of their day-to-day operating budgets for classroom instruction instead of major repair work.

Each year, Ritenour pays off old debt from previous bonds. As our loan balance decreases, we are able to borrow more money and pay it back using revenue from the existing tax rate.  Because of solid financial management, Proposition I will not raise the tax rate for Ritenour residents.

Some maintenance and repair work would have to be deferred, and most school renovation projects would be postponed indefinitely. The most critical maintenance and repair needs would still have to be addressed.  To pay for this, more money would have to be spent from the day-to-day operating budget (the part that normally pays for classroom instruction, teachers, staff and supplies).

The current needs will not go away. Delaying improvements will only result in higher costs in the future. Approval in November, will avoid expensive future repairs. If the referendum is not successful, it would cause the Board of Education and administrative teams to rethink next steps. 
 

The average Ritenour school is now 77 years old!  Renovations have been done to the schools over time, but even the major updates (done in the early 1990’s) are more than 35 years old.   Ritenour must protect the value of the buildings in our district.  It will cost more in the future to address the needs that exist today. 

Below is when each of the Ritenour schools was built and the age of each building: 

In 2020 Ritenour voters passed a $19.5 million zero rate change bond issue, called Prop S. Projects from that bond issue were completed and included a new fitness center and renovated and expanded cafeteria at Ritenour High School, new and resurfaced parking lots, energy-efficient lighting upgrades, much-needed brick tuckpointing, school cafeteria upgrades, painting and interior finishes, new parking lots, replacement of playground pads and HVAC replacement and updates. 

Visit this link to view the entire list of completed Prop S projects:  https://www.ritenourschools.org/community/proposition-s

When voters approve a bond issue, Ritenour’s selected underwriter determines the interest rate based on current market conditions and Ritenour’s credit rating, then sells the bonds to investors. The district uses the resulting funds to complete the capital projects, and pays back the debt over time. This process is similar to a home loan. When you purchase a home, you borrow money at a specific interest rate. You make payments on that loan, which include principal and interest, over a period of years. A certain amount of your regular income is budgeted to make those payments. For a school district, this regular income comes from the debt service portion of the operating tax levy. 

No. Money from bond issues can only be used for capital expenditures such as major maintenance, repair and renovation costs. Bond funds may not be used for operating expenses such as salaries, benefits, transportation costs, utilities, textbooks or other supplies.

The school district in each community is an important part of maintaining property values. High-quality schools are one of the key components people look for when moving into a new community, and studies have confirmed the link between strong school districts and strong communities. A strong public school system protects property values, provides a qualified workforce and creates a better sense of community.

No. Prop I is a zero rate change bond issue and would not increase the school district tax rate for Ritenour families and businesses.

Passage of Proposition I requires 57% (4/7) yes vote – not just a simple majority.

Proposition N would allow the district to transfer 15 cents of existing tax revenue from the debt service fund to the operating fund in 2027 and again in 2030. Due to conservative and responsible financial management by the district, those tax dollars can instead be used to support day-to-day operating expenses such as teacher salaries, classroom supplies and student services. The measure would not increase taxes; it would simply reallocate existing tax revenue. 

If approved by voters:

• The Operating Fund rate would increase by $0.15 per $100 of assessed valuation in 2026 and by $0.15 per $100 of assessed valuation in 2030. 
• The Debt Service Fund rate would decrease by $0.15 per $100 of assessed valuation in 2026 and by $0.15 per $100 of assessed valuation in 2030. 
• The district's overall tax rate for residents and businesses would remain unchanged

If approved, Proposition N would provide approximately $1.4 million annually for district operations starting in 2027, with an additional estimated $1.5 million starting in 2030.

No. Prop N is a zero rate change transfer. While the ballot language reflects an increase in the Operating Levy, there is a corresponding decrease in the Debt Service Levy.

Because the increase and decrease are equal, the district's overall tax rate remains unchanged. Residents and businesses would continue paying the same overall district tax rate.

Because of long-term financial planning, Ritenour School District has identified a responsible solution. The tax rate that will be transferred was used to retire debt on new and renovated buildings. Because much of that debt has been retired, that funding is not available for other uses. 

So the proposal reallocates existing tax rate authority while continuing to meet all existing debt obligations.

Yes. Financial projections indicate the remaining Debt Service Levy is sufficient to meet all existing bond repayment schedules and debt obligations.

Existing debt commitments remain unchanged, and the district will continue meeting all required payments.

Prop N requires a simple majority vote, meaning more than 50 percent of voters must vote "Yes" for the proposal to be approved.

Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Any Ritenour resident, 18 years or older, who has registered to vote in the Ritenour School District by Oct. 7 may vote in this election.

Anyone needing to register may do so at any St. Louis County library, at motor vehicle registration offices and the St. Louis County Board of Elections office located at 725 Northwest Plaza Drive, St. Ann, Mo. 63074. To register you must be a U.S. citizen, 17 1/2 years of age (18 years old by election day), and a resident of St. Louis County. The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election is Wednesday, Oct. 7.  For more information or to register, visit https://s1.sos.mo.gov/elections/voterregistration 

Please visit the St. Louis County Board of Elections website for a list of polling places:  https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-government/board-of-elections/

Yes. Absentee voting with an approved excuse begins Sept. 22, 2026. The deadline to apply for a mailed absentee ballot is Oct. 21, 2026. The final day to vote absentee in person is Nov. 2, 2026.

Absentee voting information is available on the St. Louis County website:  https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-government/board-of-elections/

Yes. No-excuse in-person absentee voting begins Oct. 20, 2026. Registered voters may vote before Election Day at designated election authority locations.

Additional information about voter registration, absentee voting, early voting, polling locations, and election procedures is available through the St. Louis County Board of Elections.

PROPOSITION I

For the purposes of updating safety and security systems and classroom technology, improving, maintaining, repairing and renovating school classrooms and buildings, funding other needed upgrades to facilities including energy efficiency improvements and refinancing existing leases for capital improvements, shall the Board of Education of the Ritenour School District, St. Louis County, Missouri, borrow money in the amount of Forty-Two Million Dollars ($42,000,000) and issue general obligation bonds for the payment thereof, resulting in a zero rate change to the debt service property tax levy. If this proposition is approved, the adjusted debt service levy of the District will remain $0.84 per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property.

(Note: If Propositions I and N are both approved, the District’s adjusted debt service levy is estimated to be $0.69 per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property in 2027 and $0.54 per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property in 2030)

PROPOSITION N

For purposes of paying salaries and benefits to teachers and other district staff, providing classroom educational material including instructional technology, avoiding cutbacks in educational programming, and providing funds for other operating purposes, shall the Board of Education of the Ritenour School District of St. Louis County, Missouri be authorized to increase the operating tax levy ceiling by $0.15 per $100 of assessed valuation in tax year 2027, and by an additional $0.15 per $100 of assessed valuation in tax year 2030. If this proposition is approved, the total levy of the District is expected to remain unchanged due to the expected voluntary reductions to the District’s debt service tax levy of $0.15 per $100 of assessed valuation in tax year 2027 and an additional reduction of $0.15 per $100 of assessed valuation in tax year 2030, resulting in the estimated adjusted operating levy of the District per $100 of assessed valuation to be $3.0384 for residential real property, $3.7558 for commercial real property and $4.5491 for personal property in tax year 2027 and $3.1884 for residential real property, $3.9058 for commercial real property and $4.6991 for personal property in tax year 2030.