Amherst Schools
Budget, capital project slated on May 15 ballot
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

A $40.39 million budget, with a 1.53 percent increase in the property tax levy, is not the only item voters in the Amherst Central School District need to approve on Tuesday, May 15. Also on the ballot is a districtwide $16.8 million capital construction project.

At an informational meeting prior to the Board of Education's business meeting on May 1, Mark Whyle, the district's director of administrative services, said the capital project was chosen for this year to coincide with a maturing bond.

The capital project is funded mainly through state aid, including EXCEL (Expanding Our Children's Education and Learning Aid). Whyle said the difference would be paid over 15 years and replace a payment that is currently higher, reducing the total debt portion of the budget and resulting tax levy.

The project was originally supposed to increase the 2008-09 property tax levy by 1 percent but will have no effect because of reorganization aid from the state Education Department, said Whyle. The project also has no impact on the 2007-08 budget.

The high school, the oldest of the district's four buildings, has received the most funding for the project, at $5,817,000, followed by Windermere at $5,341,000, the middle school at $4,392,000 and Smallwood at $1,250,000.

Proposed improvements at the high school include roof replacement, reconstruction of the chimney, new corridor lighting and plumbing and several upgrades to the auditorium and gymnasium.

Most of Windermere's upgrades would go toward an expansion of the cafeteria and kitchen area. Roof and skylight replacement and upgrades to the art, music and science rooms could occur at the middle school. Sidewalk accessibility and foundation drainage improvements and upgrades to the auditorium are proposed for Smallwood.

Several district parking lots would also be repaved or replaced, and all four buildings would receive new fire alarm systems.

Board Member David Dengler said the improvements are needed, especially at the high school.

"We've got an old house on Main Street that has to be fixed," he said. "To not do it would be negligent."

District resident Bill Ball seemed pleased with the proposed project.

"To me this is like a lube and a paint job (but on a larger scale)," he said.

The proposition also allows the district to create a capital reserve for minor capital projects. The reserve would be funded from existing surplus and eligible for state building aid. Voter approval would be required to spend from the reserve.

If the capital project receives voter approval, Whyle said the next step is to submit specific designs from the district's architects, the Thomas Group, to the state Education Department. Construction would begin in July 2008 and be completed by October 2009.

At the board's business meeting, Whyle said the assessment figure won't be known until August because the Town of Amherst has indicated that properties will not be assessed at full value. The tax rate is projected at $19.69, an increase of 30 cents per $1,000.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com