Next month, residents within the Pearl River County School District will vote on a proposed $18.5 million bond. If passed, the extra tax revenue generated by the bond will be used to upgrade or build several facilities at the school’s Carriere and McNeill campuses.

The year prior, a similar bond proposal for $17 million was voted down by county residents.

This year also marks the end of a previous bond approved by voters 20 years ago. Back in 1997, 70 percent of the voters who cast their vote within the District voted for a $5.1 million bond that was used to add air conditioning to the high school gymnasium at the Carriere campus and repair the roofs at the high school, and build a cafeteria at the McNeill campus, according to coverage at that time.

That previous coverage also stated that it was the second time in a few years that the bond was presented, having been voted down prior to the 1997 election.

According to Pearl River County Tax Assessor Gary Beech that bond added 3.6 mills to the District’s tax rate.

Beech said it caused those residents to see an annual increase of $36 for a home assessed at $100,000 and $72 for a home assessed at $200,000.

When that millage rolls, off those taxpayers will see that amount taken off their tax bill, Beech said.

Superintendent Alan Lumpkin said the bond is expected to roll off this year.

This year’s proposed bond will increase the millage rate by 7.71 mills, and increase the tax bill for a home assessed at $100,000 by about $78 per year.

Two more public meetings will be held by the District so residents within that area can get more information about the proposed increase. The next meeting will be held April 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the Pearl River Central Elementary Auditorium. Another meeting will be held May 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the Pearl River Central High School Gym.

An election for the bond will be held May 8 at the storm shelter at the Carriere campus.