Bond request for schools on the ballot Tuesday in Ely

The Ely school district is trying again to win voter approval of a construction project for its aging facilities.

A vote Tuesday will ask voters to raise their property taxes to fund a new $3 million heating system.

"We've been patching it on a regular basis, and we're wanting to be able to get a new, energy efficient system in that would also help in reducing maintenance and heating costs," said Ely superintendent Kim Belcastro, who also notes the current system is more than 90 years old.

Last fall, voters rejected a more expensive request of more than $9 million. That project would have included other fixes, including updated plumbing and new roofs.

Belcastro says she hopes to win approval by paring back the request and only asking for the biggest need.

If approved, property taxes would increase about $66 a year for the owner of a $200,000 home or seasonal recreational property.