DeWITT, Iowa - Voters in the Central Community School District will go to the polls Tuesday to vote on a proposed $13.95 million bond issue that would help fund a $27.3 million facilities improvement plan.

All voters in the district will vote at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 520 E. 11th St., in DeWitt. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The plan includes expansion at the high school/middle school complex to add new classrooms, a competition gymnasium and an auditorium. In addition to the bond issue, the project would be funded through statewide 1-cent sales tax revenues, grants and private donations.

As of Monday afternoon, the Clinton County Auditor's Office had filled 1,392 requests for absentee ballots. There are about 6,300 registered voters in the district. Previous referendums in the district have attracted 2,500 to 3,100 voters.

The project received a last-minute boost when First Central State Bank announced a pledge of $300,000 toward the auditorium and gymnasium project, Superintendent Dan Peterson said Monday.

Peterson said the bank offered the grant, and suggested that the basketball court in the new gymnasium be named in honor of Neil Padgett, who coached the boys basketball team for 30 years and led the Sabers to a state championship in the 1980-81 season. Padgett died of cancer in 2002 at the age of 60.

Peterson said the school board has not formally approved the proposal to name the court after Padgett because the project has not been approved, but are supportive of the idea and believe it is a fitting tribute to the coach.

The auditorium and gym project also received a $300,000 grant this spring from the Clinton County Community Development Association's gaming funds.

The bond issue would raise the property taxes on the average-priced home in DeWitt by $94.29 per year. The tax increase on the average home would be $71.53 in Grand Mound, $56.89 in Low Moor, and $47.09 in Welton.