Here's what's at stake in Des Moines' $265M school bond vote today

• It could also affect property values, neighborhood vibrancy and the city's overall stability, per Boesen.

Catch up fast: The five-year "Reimagining Education" plan is a scaled-down version of an earlier $500 million, 10-year proposal and requires 60% voter approval to pass.

• District leaders had worked for months on the plan, which was placed on the ballot a few weeks before former superintendent Ian Roberts was detained by immigration officials.
• Political strategists from both parties say the superintendent scandal has raised questions about the district's management and makes the bond's success less likely.
• Among the ongoing questions is why the district allowed Roberts before hiring him to correct an inaccuracy on his original resume that claimed he'd earned a doctorate degree from Morgan State University.

Zoom in: If the bond passes, the district will use the funds to expand career and technical education programs, increase preschool access and update schools.

• The building reconfigurations outlined in the plan would also lead to the closure of Walnut Street School, Harding Middle School, Howe Elementary and an administrative building.
• Property taxes would go up about $200 annually for a home assessed at roughly $210,000, according to district estimates.

What they're saying: Smith and Boesen, a former DMPS school board member, were among the referendum supporters who held a press conference Friday outlining the effects of its passage or failure.

• The recent superintendent issues should not overshadow headlines about the need for the referendum, said Smith.
• Property tax rates would still be lower than they were five years ago, he said.

The other side: Voters face difficulty understanding the different spending components that are usually included in bond referendums, Chris Hagenow, president of Iowans for Tax Relief, tells Axios.

• His group has not taken a stance on the DMPS bond but he said he believes transparency influences voter decisions.

Yes, but: The district has established an independent oversight committee to ensure the money is spent as proposed if the referendum passes, Smith said.

What we're watching: How soon the referendum might return to the ballot if it fails today, with Smith noting it could be as early as a year from now.