PROJECT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. What is the total cost of this capital improvement project to the district residents?
A.
The total cost for this project is $48 Million.
Q. How will this affect the taxpayer?
A.
This Capital Improvement Project can be done at NO COST to the Taxpayer. This is because the District would receive New York State Building Aid, EXCEL Aid, and the District's Capital Reserves, Reconstruction and Technology would utilized.
Q. How does this benefit our students?
A.
This investment will ensure that our schools provide our students with the appropriate learning environment that they deserve. We all want the best for our children, and this opportunity affords us the chance to give that to them.
Q. What if the "Capital Improvement Project" is NOT approved?
A.
  1. We will not be able to provide our students the facilities and opportunities that they will need and deserve in order to compete as 21st century learners.
  2. Our facilities will remain out-of-date and in many areas also out-of-compliance with New York State Education Department Regulations.
  3. Repairs, renovations, and improvements still need to be done but the local taxpayers will have to pick up 100% of the cost with no state aid.
  4. Energy savings and increased efficiencies will not be realized.
  5. The technology upgrades will be out of the question without the capital project.
  6. The District cannot access the $1,376,696 in EXCEL Aid. There is no guarantee that this money will remain available in the future.
  7. Our buildings range in age from 40-84 years old and many portions of the physical plant are breaking down and must be fixed from the budget's general fund and without building aid.
  8. The work we are proposing needs to be done now. Rising costs will continue to reduce what we can do with our money.
  9. The Capital Facilities Plan identified approximately $62 million in improvements that will have to be addressed at some point. Phase I of the Capital Project will address $48 Million worth of improvements at NO COST to the taxpayers.
  10. It will become increasingly more difficult to compete for new families entering our region with neighboring districts that have continually upgraded their facilities. People want to live where the schools are well-maintained and efficiently run.