RENO --  The Builders Association of Northern Nevada (BANN) and the Council for Excellence in Education (CEE) are endorsing Assembly Bill 46, which would provide funding for repairs and maintenance at schools in the Washoe County School District.

BANN and the CEE join numerous groups that are also supporting the bill, including EDAWN (Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada), Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Northern Nevada, The Chamber, and Parent Leaders for Education.

“We recognize that there are serious needs in our school district that have not been properly funded,” said Mike Dillon, Jr., executive director of the BANN. “AB 46 is a broad-based approach where everyone shares in taking care of our most important asset, our kids. The school district has demonstrated that all Washoe County schools will receive much-needed rehabilitation with capital construction projects.”

“The Council for Excellence in Education’s working group will release its legislative priority list and briefing paper this week, and the first priority on our list is support of Assembly Bill 46,” said Daryl Drake, one of the founding members of the group. “CEE is a business-based support group for pK-12 education in Washoe County and statewide. Our members are highly sensitive to additional taxes on families, consumers, and businesses; yet, we also recognize our fundamental obligation to preserve and maintain our physical assets for education. I can say that we do face a crisis in the next 8-10 years providing for just the bare necessities to keep many of our schools open. AB 46 is critically important to us!”

AB 46 would provide approximately $20 million annually for maintenance and repairs at the District’s 93 schools through a ¼ percent increase in sales tax and an increase in property tax of $0.05 per $100 of assessed value in Washoe County. The cost for the average family in Washoe County is $8 per month.

For more information about capital funding needs in the Washoe County School District, visit:
http://washoecountyschools.org/community/legislative-session/capital_funding