Trustees Approve Capital Projects Referendum
The Huntington School Board unanimously approved a capital projects referendum that will be placed on the same May 15 ballot that will include the 2012/13 budget and three trustee races. Trustees took the action during a public meeting this past Monday night in the Jack Abrams School auditorium.
Trustees voted 7-0 to approve placement of $2.299 million worth of projects on the ballot. The district currently has $5,309,967 available for such work in the capital reserve fund. The monies can only be used for renovation and reconstruction projects as authorized by voters. Passage of the May 15 proposition will not increase taxes.
Monies in the fund represent dollars already provided to the district by taxpayers that, because of tight fiscal management and economizing, weren't needed to pay for regular school operations. The source of the funding is the annual transfer of surplus monies from the district's general fund.
The list of possible projects includes:
Huntington High School
• Renovate chemistry lab: $480,000
• Replace building clock system: $200,000
• Replace building public address system: $100,000
• Replace building security system: $35,000
Total: $815,000
J. Taylor Finley Middle School
• Replace building clock system: $170,000
• Replace building public address system: $50,000
• Replace building security system: $22,000
Total: $242,000
Nathaniel Woodhull Intermediate School
• Replace building clock system: $100,000
• Replace building fire alarm system: $85,000
Total: $185,000
Jack Abrams School
• Replace building security system: $27,000
Total: $27,000
Flower Hill Primary School
• Install building access control: $10,000
• Replace building security system: $15,000
Total: $25,000
Jefferson Primary School
• Install building access control: $10,000
• Replace building security system: $15,000
Total: $25,000
Southdown Primary School
• Install building access control: $10,000
• Replace building security system: $15,000
• Reconstruct roadway, parking lot and sidewalks: $605,000
Total: $630,000
Washington Primary School
• Install building access control: $10,000
• Replace building public address system: $75,000
• Reconstruct roadway, parking lot and sidewalks: $250,000
• Replace building security system: $15,000
Total: $350,000
If the proposition is approved by residents, the school district will be able to apply for state aid on any capital project it completes. By utilizing the capital reserve fund to cover the cost of projects, the district will avoid borrowing monies through a bond issue and incurring expenses for interest.
The district is hopeful that bids for the work will ultimately come in below the architect's current estimates for each respective project.