The Topeka Public Schools board voted unanimously May 21 to approve resolution 26‑011, authorizing the reissuance of the district's 2020B bonds as tax‑exempt obligations.
Finance staff said the action is the final procedural step in a refinance plan initiated in 2020. The earlier refinancing of the 2016A series produced approximately $20.4 million in savings and allowed the district to carry a lower mill levy than would otherwise have been necessary. If the current action is approved, the refunded bonds will be redeemed and the 2020B issue will revert to tax‑exempt status on Aug. 1, 2026; bond counsel (Gilmore & Bell) and the district’s advisor Raymond James will handle the remaining work.
Board members framed the action as a routine fiscal measure to reduce long‑term interest costs and speed payoff of outstanding debt; staff said refinancing will shorten the repayment schedule by roughly five years, moving projected final payoff to 2039.
The motion to approve resolution 26‑011 carried by unanimous vote.