With capital project approved, Highland plans ahead

By Mark Reynolds
Posted 11/2/22

Highland residents recently approved two infrastructure propositions totaling $21,620,092.

Proposition 1, which passed by a vote of 758 to 223, calls for spending $16.9 million for significant …

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With capital project approved, Highland plans ahead

Posted

Highland residents recently approved two infrastructure propositions totaling $21,620,092.

Proposition 1, which passed by a vote of 758 to 223, calls for spending $16.9 million for significant infrastructure upgrades at all three campuses as well as at the bus garage.

The district stated that proposition 1 is tax neutral, which was achieved, “by employing a strategic financial approach that leverages the availability of State Aid, applies funds saved in the voter-approved Capital Reserve Fund [approx. $1.9 million] and replaces existing debt that will soon be paid off. Creating projects that minimize tax increases is a priority of the Board of Education.”

The school district pointed out that approximately 71.7% of the total aid-able cost of the project will be paid for by New York State. In addition, “the district’s debt payments on existing bonds will decrease in 2024 and payments for the new project would replace those that will soon be paid off, maintaining current levels of debt in the budget.”
Proposition 2 also passed by a vote of 609 to 367. This $4.6 million part of the overall project will pay for improvements to the High School Athletic Field and Track. This proposition will cost taxpayers with the Basic Star Exemption about $1 per/month per $100,000 of full- value assessment.

Board President Alan Barone thanked the public for their support.

“I’m sure everyone will be very happy once that’s completed, hopefully within two years,” he said.
Superintendent Joel Freer said, “I want to echo what the board president mentioned on the vote; thank you, thank you, thank you to the community for coming out. It was a great showing and we need to keep that momentum going in the future. Most importantly, people had their voices heard and that’s all we can ask for.”