Peru Elementary District may issue bonds to pay school construction bill

There’s a chance taxpayers may have to help pay to move Washington Elementary students into an expanded Northview Elementary School in Peru.

Bids were awarded in August to add on to Northview and the estimated cost of the entire project was about $400,000 above the board’s estimated project budget. Plumbing and heating costs both came in more than expected.

The Peru Elementary School Board’s Finance Committee will meet at 5pm Tuesday and discuss issuing bonds to pay for the completion of the Northview project. Superintendent Mark Cross said when bids were announced he didn’t think they could cut anything out of the renovation so they may add a few cents to the tax levy to cover all the costs.

A state construction grant is paying for most of the Northview project.