Chatham, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Springfield Public School district will soon decide whether to sell another $110 million for various cash needs including to bankroll more district infrastructure.

The Ball-Chatham School District is looking at something similar, but is asking voters first in the form of a referendum on the March 17th primary election ballot.

“We conducted a security audit and a facilities audit, to look at what we were going to need to address in the next 20 years.  We came up with 416 items,” said Becca Latham, Superintendent, on the WTAX Morning Newswatch.  “Unfortunately, 84 percent of our projects were things that we felt were going to need to be touched in the first ten years of our plan.”

Latham says that first ten years worth of work was estimated to cost $117 million a few years ago, likely more by now.

“Some of the key items that we’re needing to address is replacement of our fire suppression system.  It’s just out of date,” said Latham.  “Infrastructure items like roofs, windows, boilers.  We’re currently operating three schools that don’t have all their boilers fully functioning right now.”

That’s in addition to things like libraries and Family and Consumer Science classrooms, Laman said.  She says among other things, ovens don’t work.

Latham says parents have been a part of the process since well before the referendum, and at least seven public meetings have been held.

If approved, much of the bonds will be paid with the district’s share of the proceeds of a special one percent sales tax — same as Springfield and the other districts in Sangamon County.

CLICK HERE for more information on the referendum.  It’s one of several in various communities in school districts.  One all voters will be asked to decide on is a special sales tax that will allow the forming of a mental health commission, and the funding of various related projects.