Q & A

What is a Capital Project?

It is like home improvements for schools. By NYS Law, the school district inspects its property regularly, working with an architect to maintain a five-year, capital improvement plan. Some issues require immediate attention, while other repairs and upgrades can be spread out over time. This is done in much the same way a homeowner plans to fund major repairs, such as a roof. For school districts, this is called a “Capital Project”. To further encourage schools to maintain or improve

their facilities, SED reimburses districts through “Building Aid” for capital projects. SED pays a percentage of capital project costs, and the district pays the balance known as “Local Share”.

Why are these projects needed?

It is needed for health, safety, and energy efficiency. Several areas of the campus require upgrading for increased energy efficiency as well as health and safety. Based on their condition, many of these items were identified as needing improvements in the Building Condition Survey required by SED. In a time of scarce resources, it is even more critical to make such upgrades as it will save the District in energy costs which can be better used for educational programming.

What is the cost of the project and what will the taxpayers’ share of construction costs be?

The total project referendum amount is $6,755,000. The marginal cost of this project for the taxpayers will be about $6/year for a taxpayer with Enhanced STAR exemption and full value assessment of $100,000. The Board of Education decided from the very beginning of project discussions that the only way this project would be put to the voters is if it costs the taxpayers a minimal amount.

The District’s building aid ratio from the state is 94.4%. This means that the state pays for .944 cents for every $1 of eligible project cost. (The chart on other side of this page breaks out the taxpayer’s average annual marginal cost). In addition to the building aid from the state, the District will apply $350,000 of unappropriated fund balance to help reduce the remaining cost of the local share.

Why now?

Over time, our facility needs will continue to grow, not diminish or go away. We don’t expect SED’s contribution to capital project costs to get any better than they are right now.

We also know that construction costs continue to escalate with each passing year. The construction industry is a very competitive marketplace right now. Owners who can undertake construction in this climate benefit from lower material and labor costs.

If we choose to wait and pursue the same project in the future, we would expect the cost to the taxpayers to be higher.

What happens if the project is voted down?

Costs could go up. The financing for this project will allow the Heuvelton Central School District to spread payments for the work over several years to correspond with the building aid that we receive from the State. If voted down, several of the items will need to be addressed in the annual operating budget thus taking funds away from our academic programs and overall operations.

Major Scope of Work

School Building:• Window reconstruction - replace Kalwall in High School

Gym with aluminum units• Masonry restoration - water entry at exposed steel

columns • Provide natural lighting to Computer Lab 207 with

skylights• Northeast Entry reconstruction - replace spalling concrete

walls and ramp• Roof replacement at select areas• New band risers for Auditorium performances• Replace wood bleachers in Elementary School and High

School Gyms• Elementary School Gym locker room and toilet room

reconstruction• Network infrastructure upgrades• Replace sanitary piping and galvanized water piping in

Elementary School crawl space• ADA toilet room renovations• Site lighting upgrades•DrainageimprovementsatGirl’ssoftballfield• Reconstruct/extend nature trail• Expand parking area• Asphalt surfacing and restriping• Science Room upgrades• Auditorium upgrades• Food Service refrigeration equipment improvements• Provide enclosure for Art Room kiln•Selectflooringreplacement•ProvidesecurityfilmatMainEntrancesexteriordoorsand

vestibule doors

Bus Garage:• Roof replacement• Concrete slab repairs• Fire alarm upgrades• Sewer pump replacement• Asphalt resurfacing

HEUVELTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT$6,755,000 Capital Improvement Project

Basic Enhanced Full Value No STAR STAR STAR $50,000 $9.00 $4.00 - $75,000 $14.00 $8.00 $2.00 $100,000 $19.00 $13.00 $6.00 $125,000 $23.00 $18.00 $11.00 $150,000 $28.00 $22.00 $16.00 $175,000 $33.00 $27.00 $20.00 $200,000 $37.00 $32.00 $25.00

* 15 Year maturity

Average Marginal Cost to Taxpayer *(Annually)

Vote March 26, 20151:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.Poulton Auditorium

Public InformationMeeting:

Wednesday, March 11, 20156:30 p.m.

New Large Group Instruction Room

Site ImprovementsDrainage Improvements

New Expanded ParkingMill and Resurface

Parking Lots and Drives

Upgraded Site Lighting

Refurbish Nature Trail

Provide Communications and Water Service to Quonset Hut

First Floor Plan

Entrance Stair/Ramp Repair

Bleacher ReplacementFlooring Replacement

Locker Room Renovations

High School Renovations(Window and Bleacher

Replacement/Locker Room Flooring)

Masonry Restoration

HVAC Improvements

Auditorium Lighting and Flooring UpgradesMain Entry Safety Improvements

Elementary SchoolPiping and Flush Valve

Replacement

Lighting Improvements in Elementary School

Toilet Rooms