Property taxpayers in the Bowling Green Independent School District will get a break from tax rate increases this year.

Superintendent Gary Fields said he doesn’t see a need to raise the tax rate thanks to a modest increase in per-pupil funding from the state, a growing property tax base in Bowling Green and the district’s efforts to contain personnel costs.

“We will not raise taxes at all this year,” he told the Daily News after a meeting of the district’s board of education Monday.

Fields said district officials don’t want to raise the property tax rate after the board increased it last year. In September, the board voted to raise the rate to 82.8 cents per every $100 of real and personal property value, up from 78.1 cents.

The additional revenue was used to help pay for renovations at Bowling Green High School and fixed cost increases.

Fields said efforts to contain personnel costs, whether by phasing out unnecessary positions or reassigning staff, have paid off. “We’ve been more conservative,” he said.

Effective July 1, all staff can also expect to start seeing a 2 percent salary increase in their paychecks, Fields said.

In the meeting, the board approved the district’s tentative budget, which is the second of three budgets in its cycle. Its general fund totals roughly $42 million.

In other business, the board selected winning bids for early work on the extensive renovations at Bowling Green High School. The high school will undergo a major overhaul over two phases over the next several years.

Utility contractor Scott and Ritter had the winning bid to provide storm drainage, utility work and temporary fencing for the project. Independent Electrical Contractors will handle the electrical portion of the project.

Officials estimated early work on phase one renovations at the high school will cost $1,231,000. The total for lowest bids came in at $996,350.

The first phase of the project will add most of the school’s classroom space and involves building a two-story wing around the school’s natatorium. Temporary connectors will tie the wing into the older parts of the school.

Officials expect the project to be completed by early 2020. A groundbreaking ceremony is planned Monday.

Fields said bids for phase one renovations are being advertised. The board will consider approving a bid at its June meeting.

Long-term project goals include replacing the school’s outdated circular walls, adding natural light to all classrooms, improving energy efficiency, streamlining traffic flow around the school and upgrading the overall learning environment for students.

In a later phase, the classroom wing will be fleshed out to encircle the natatorium, which will be converted into a courtyard. The second phase is expected to begin in the next several years based on available funding.