Springs Bond Vote Tuesday

Mar. 1, 2018

Judy D’Mello

On Tuesday, Springs taxpayers will decide whether to approve the $16.9 million bonds necessary for the Springs School District’s expansion plan to go forward.

Voting will take place from 1 to 9 p.m. in the school library, located at 48 School Street in Springs.

Today is the last day for qualified people who are not registered to vote to do so between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the district clerk’s office. To vote, people must be citizens of the United States and Springs residents for at least the last 30 days. Anyone not registered will not be allowed to vote.

The cost of the project is not to exceed $22.96 million. Approximately $6 million from the district’s capital reserve fund will be applied to that sum, leaving taxpayers to decide on the financing of a balance of $16.9 million.

For Springs homeowners, Michael Henery, the school’s business administrator, offered the following projected numbers for an increase in taxes: A property valued at $600,000 would incur approximately $163 more a year, or $14 a month, properties valued at $800,000 would face a $217 increase, or $18 a month, and residences around the $1 million mark would see an increase of about $272 annually or $23 a month.

If the bond is approved, it is hoped that construction will begin in July 2019 and be completed by 2021. The proposed scope of work includes a building addition of 24,000 square feet, the reconstruction and renovation of 17,000 square feet of existing interior areas, demolition, upgrading, and new construction of outbuildings, replacement of existing septic systems with a new, low-nitrogen sanitary system, installation of new access and service roadways and the expansion of the parking lots, relocation of basketball and handball courts, the expansion and renovation of two grass playing fields, and the installation of a new baseball field.

In the event of a defeat, school officials said that the board would seek public approval of the approximately $6 million in a capital reserve fund to be reallocated toward a new roof, a new septic system, and upgrades to windows and doors only.

Correction: An earlier version of this article referred to a $16.9 million expansion. The school district is proposing a $22.96 million expansion, to be financed with $16.9 million in bonds and approximately $6 million from its capital reserve fund.