A proposal to create a Local Capital Projects Control Board is not being met with much enthusiasm by area educators.

That's because it would require school officials to jump through another hoop before a construction project could get off the ground.

The proposal calls for each county to set up a control board to review and approve capital projects for need, cost, size, scope and potential conflict with other projects before a school or governmental unit could issue debt or begin construction.

There are two versions being considered. State Rep. Bob Kuzman, D-Crown Point, has a proposal that would exclude schools from review while Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, has a version that includes schools.

Kenley said he and Kuzman have been talking regularly about the proposal, and it will be presented Tuesday to the Legislature as an amendment to Kuzman's House Bill 1478.

Kenley, who thinks he has the support to get his version passed, said property taxpayers want every capital project to be thoroughly reviewed.

"If the local board approves it, the (Indiana) Department of (Local) Government Finance's review would be limited to whether or not the school or municipality has the financial ability to pay off the bond," Kenley said.

Kenley also said it will force government officials to talk to each other and coordinate projects so everyone isn't running around building things at the same time.

Crown Point's School Board just gave preliminary approval to a $45 million project to add another wing to the high school, double the size of Eisenhower Elementary School and make maintenance upgrades to other elementary school buildings.

Crown Point Superintendent Teresa Eineman said schools already face a "stringent" approval process for projects.

"Therefore, adding any additional steps, in my mind, would add to the bureaucracy, which would be counter intuitive," Eineman said.

It already takes three to four years to get one building project completed from the local decision to the end of the construction project, she said.

Merrillville Superintendent Tony Lux, whose district just approved a $55 million addition and upgrade, said he's leery of the concept as well and would not want to see necessities for students have to "compete with a new bridge or road."

Still, Lake County Councilman Larry Blanchard said he supports Kenley's legislation and school projects also need to be scrutinized, with the "Department of Local Government Finance having the final say."