BCS Proposes A New Capital Project
District Says No Tax Hike Is Needed
By Doug La Rocque
The Berlin Central School Board first proposed the idea of another Capital Project, coming while work on two others is well underway, at its September meeting. Board President Frank Zwack made it very clear at that time that between available state aid and reserve funds the school could earmark for the project, there would be no need for any tax hike. At a special board meeting on Tuesday, October 22, the Board approved the project, capping spending at $7 million. The new project will focus on some aging pieces of equipment in the district’s two schools, that should they fail, could create some serious problems and result in large repair bills, that there would be no state money to help with.
The Board is also looking at putting some items removed from the current Capital Projects, because of higher than estimated costs, back on the drawing board. In all, the project will consist of site and building rehabilitation at the bus garage, elementary as well as the middle/high schools.
The proposed project would qualify for about $4 million in state funding, and the Board authorized the expenditure of up to $3 million from the District’s Capital Reserve Fund. Board President Zwack said it is important that the project highlight the most critical needs of the district, while ensuring there was no added burden on the taxpayers. A vote on the Capital Project is scheduled for Wednesday, December 11.