The Mills City Council took decisive action on Tuesday, voting unanimously to approve a public approval certificate that will enable the Wyoming Classical Academy to pursue up to $35 million in tax‑exempt education revenue bonds. The bonds are intended to finance the acquisition, construction, development, improvement, equipping, and operation of the charter‑school’s campus facilities and associated land.
How the financing works
According to city documents, the bonds will be issued by the Public Finance Authority, while the city of Mills will serve solely as the municipal host for the educational facility. Importantly, the city assumes no financial liability for the debt. Proceeds from the bond sale will be transferred to the Wyoming Classical Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that acts as the borrower.
Benefits for families and the community
The financing plan includes a bond reserve fund and covers issuance expenses, ensuring that the charter school can focus on delivering a high‑quality, classical education to local families. The school facilities will be owned by the Wyoming Classical Foundation and leased to Wyoming Classical Academy Inc., the entity that operates the charter school. This structure protects the city’s finances while expanding educational options for parents seeking a faith‑aligned, academically rigorous environment for their children.
Local government stewardship
By approving the public approval certificate, the Mills City Council demonstrated its commitment to responsible fiscal stewardship and to supporting school‑choice initiatives that give parents greater control over their children’s education. The unanimous vote reflects broad community confidence that the bond program will be managed prudently and will not burden taxpayers with additional debt.
Next steps
The Wyoming Classical Foundation will move forward with the bond issuance process, working with the Public Finance Authority to market the securities to qualified investors. Once the bonds are sold, the proceeds will be used to fund the planned campus improvements and to refinance existing obligations, positioning the charter school for long‑term stability and growth.
Community impact
Local families can look forward to enhanced facilities that support a classical curriculum, extracurricular activities, and modern classroom technology. The project aligns with Mills’ broader goals of fostering a vibrant, family‑friendly community where parents have real choices in education and where local institutions can thrive without imposing new financial risks on the municipality.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
