Spartanburg School District 7 voters to decide on referendum Tuesday, details on voting

Spartanburg County School District 7 residents will vote on the district's 2024 Referendum Tuesday.

If passed, the referendum will fund the construction of a new elementary school and an addition to another and create space for multiple childcare programs.

Here's what to know before you head to the polls:

Who can vote on the referendum?

Any registered voter who lives in Spartanburg School District 7 can vote on the referendum. The following polling places are participating:

When and where do I vote on the referendum?

The special election will be held on Aug. 20. You can vote at your usual polling place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

How much is the bond referendum and what would it cover?

The proposed $47 million referendum would fund the creation of a new Jesse Boyd Elementary School on the old McCracken Middle School site and an 11,364-square-foot classroom addition to Mary H. Wright Elementary. The additions would also allow daycare space for district employees and a need-based public 3K program.

The total estimated cost for the projects is $59,572,823, of which the district would provide $12,572,833 from its debt service, food service, and general funds. The referendum, if passed, would cover the remaining cost.

Want to know more about these projects?: Spartanburg School District 7 to present referendum for two elementary school projects

What will the D7 2024 referendum question look like on my ballot?

Shall the Board of Trustees of School District No. 7 of Spartanburg County, South Carolina (the "School District") be empowered to issue, at one time or from time to time, general obligation bonds of the School District, in a principal amount of not exceeding $47,000,000, the proceeds of which shall be used to finance the costs (including architectural, engineering, legal and related fees, and land acquisition, if necessary) of the following:

• Constructing and equipping a new elementary school to replace Jesse Boyd Elementary School and
• Constructing and equipping renovations and additions to Mary H. Wright Elementary?

If the voter wishes to vote in favor of the question, fill in the oval next to "In favor of the question/yes;" if the voter wishes to vote against the question, fill in the oval next to the words, "Opposed to the question/no."

Still have questions about the D7 referendum? Where can I get answers?

The district will hold one more community information session before the vote on Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. in the District 7 Fine Arts Center at Spartanburg High School (2250 E. Main St.).

There is also a resource page for the referendum on the district's website.

Samantha Swann covers city news, development and culture in Spartanburg. She is a University of South Carolina Upstate and Greenville Technical College alumna. Contact her at sswann@shj.com or on Instagram at @sam_on_spartanburg.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Spartanburg School District 7 voters to decide on referendum Tuesday, details on voting