For the first time in eight years, the Aurora Public Schools district will ask voters to approve a bond question in November.

The local school district is asking residents to consent to a $300 million bond issue to improve and enhance its many aging and crowded schools.

If approved by voters on Election Day, the bond question would increase residential property taxes by $1.93 per month for every $100,000 of home value, according to district documents. That equates to about $23 annually per $100,000 of home value.

The APS school board unanimously approved the bond measure, on the ballot as question 3C, at a regular board meeting in August.

Funds generated by a bond would go toward financing the construction of a new school that would serve grades six to 12 in northwest Aurora, a new P-8 school in east Aurora and the replacement of both Mrachek Middle School and Lyn Knoll Elementary School, among several other projects.

The district recently launched a website identifying the individual projects the bond money would fund at every school in APS. The construction of the new P-8 school, which would serve about 1,000 students, and the replacement of Mrachek would be the most expensive projects to be completed using bond funds. The new school would run APS about $38 million, while the Mrachek replacement would total about $24 million, according to district documents. An approved bond would also ensure the district’s receipt of a $16 million BEST (Building Excellent Schools Today) grant to supplement the Mrachek overhaul.

Other lofty enhancements include $20 million worth of additions at Vista PEAK, $16 million for a total remodel of East Middle School and $14 million for a full replacement of Lyn Knoll Elementary School.

About $10 million would be allocated for new technology improvements at APS schools over the course of five years, and about $2 million would be saved for upgraded safety and security, according to district documents. Officials have also earmarked $8 million for obtaining an office building the district would lease to Colorado State University Global Campus in an attempt to create a local higher education pipeline.

After more than three years of studying the district’s facility and technology shortfalls, APS officials determined the district is in need of about $511 million to get up to speed, but cited frugality and voter appetite in their decision to pursue the $300 million question.

APS enrollment has grown by more than 7,000 students since 2008, according to district documents. The district now serves about 40,000 students.

Aurora voters approved the district’s last bond-related ballot question, which asked for $215 million in 2008. Voters also approved a mill levy override in 2012.

There is not an opposition campaign to the “Yes on 3C” group.

More information is available on the APS website.