Lawrence school board members will meet Monday for a brief agenda that includes considering the district’s portion of tax breaks to help fund construction of a downtown affordable housing project for people ages 55 and up. The board’s agenda as of Sunday afternoon listed only reports from board members and the superintendent and consent agenda items, or a list of items that are generally considered routine and are approved with one motion unless a board member or the superintendent asks to pull something for further discussion. A report about the crossing guard and Safe Routes to School programs was postponed because of a last-minute scheduling conflict with the presenter, according to district spokesperson Julie Boyle. The developer of the New Hampshire Street Lofts, the 48-unit affordable housing project planned for 1000 New Hampshire St., is seeking a 15-year, 95% Neighborhood Revitalization Area (NRA) property tax rebate as well as Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB) financing to make project construction materials sales tax exempt. The school board’s agenda materials state that “Impacts of the project on the local school district are insubstantial due to state school financing formulas.”
Source: The Lawrence Times
