Lakeland district trustees voted Wednesday to put a five-year, $15 million plant facilities levy on the May ballot.

Lakeland has struggled to pass levies in recent years, including a supplemental levy that narrowly failed in November 2024. Voters approved a two-year, $15 million levy in May — after the district shaved the original measure by $4 million.

The plant facilities levy would pay for ongoing building maintenance and larger improvement projects like new high school tracks and football fields. 

Trustees unanimously agreed to put the levy on the ballot Wednesday, despite concern that the $3 million-per-year figure was the right amount. The district does not have a plant-facilities levy, but $3 million a year is nearly double the most recent plant facilities levy on the books. Vice Chair Ramona Grissom was absent from Wednesday’s meeting. 

Trustees said they were surprised by the staff’s request for the levy.

“My apprehension is that we have had no input on the $3 million, where it’s going to go, if that’s even sufficient,” Chair Michelle Thompson said. “There was no inclusion on that.” 

Staff members said they compiled the levy request following a 10-year plan that the district created for school modernization funds, with additional projects like resurfacing the high schools’ tracks added in. 

Without a plant-facilities levy the maintenance department does not have a general operating budget, said Tim Haag, facilities director. That has led to routine maintenance falling behind.

“Where I would like to see the district go into the future is to be on more of a preventative maintenance schedule,” Haag said.

The district expects to spend $20 million in school-modernization funds received from the state by the end of summer 2027. 

While those funds will cover at least one new roof, Haag said re-roofing the district’s 11 schools must be planned, and consistent funds will help. 

“You’re going to have to replace these roofs every 30 years, which seems like a long time but that’s one every three years.” Haag said.

Trustee Randi Bain noted there’s more spending flexibility with the plant-facilities levy than a supplemental levy as issues arise. 

The levy would largely pay for routine maintenance. Items slated for the first year include new flooring at Betty Kiefer Elementary, elementary playground repairs, new perimeter fencing, repairing cracks in gum walls, a new backup generator and replacing roofs. 

The levy could also pay for large projects over the course of five years, including:

• $1.5 million for Timberlake High School track (summer 2027)
• $1.5 million for Lakeland High School track (summer of 2029)
• $1 million for exterior windows, painting Lakeland High School (summer 2031)
• $1.5 million for Lakeland High School parking lot replacement (Summer 2032)
• $5 million for turf football fields at both high schools (no date)
• $750k to relocate Lakeland Middle School front office (no date)

The levy would cost tax payers $30 per $100,000 of assessed property value, according to numbers shared during the meeting.