As we near the capital project vote on Monday, November 10, the district continues to receive feedback and questions from our community on the upcoming vote. Over the past several weeks, we have worked to deliver specific information for district voters to stay informed during this process.
Today, we are featuring an easy-to-read Q&A that addresses the overall cost of the project and introduces items related to the discussions taking place in our school community. As always, it’s our commitment to sharing clear details to allow district voters to be prepared for the capital project vote on November 10.
Additionally, we introduced an in-depth video that highlights the capital project and its impact on generations of students and families at BKW. You can view that video here.
Question: Why did the local share of the proposed capital project go down from previous projections?
Answer: The assessment values for the district for 2025-26 are now available (previous projections were done off of available data for 2024-2025). The overall value of homes in the district increased thus spreading out the local share. Home values affect each town differently, and are dependent on many factors, such reassessments. Please know that tax rates are established by a combination of equalization rate, assessed value, and the school tax levy. The district only sets the levy amount.
Question: Can you include capital project work as part of the annual school budget?
Answer: No. The school budget is intended to cover student education and routine maintenance and day-to-day repairs of buildings and grounds. By contrast, New York State provides substantial aid for capital projects, enabling the District to make significant improvements to facilities in a fiscally responsible and cost-effective manner.
Question: Will taxpayers be paying for this roof for the next 30 years?
Answer: No. This small capital project will be bonded over 15 years. The roof, however, does have a 30 year warranty- so the roof will be warranted well after it is completely paid for. By paying off the project through property taxes, the timeline for the project’s cost is spread over time, and allows the project to be fiscally responsible.
Question: Why is the district putting this project before the voters in November instead of another time of year?
Answer: Approving the project in November allows the District to submit required materials to New York State Education Department (NYSED) in a timely manner, enabling us to advertise for bids during the winter when roofing contractors are scheduling their spring projects. This timing increases our likelihood of receiving the most competitive pricing and ensures the work can begin as soon as weather permits.
Question: Why isn’t the district relying on reserves to fund this project?
Answer: There currently is not enough money in the reserves to eliminate the local impact of the project. In fact, the facilities (capital) reserves were at a zero balance until this past September. Not having funds in these reserves leaves the district in a vulnerable state, should emergencies (water, septic failure, heating failures) occur.
It is also important that we plan for the future. We know that NYS has mandated electric buses, and maximum school temperature. These mandates may require modification of facilities that may be aided at a lower ratio.
Question: What if the capital project is voted down?
Answer: A “no” vote on the capital project would have real consequences for our students. Continued roof leaks not only create safety hazards for students and staff but also risk further damage to our buildings. Addressing these emergencies would require using general fund dollars, directly taking resources away from classrooms and programs. In other words, essential learning opportunities, enrichment activities, and student services could be reduced or eliminated—all for issues that could have been prevented with this project. Approving the project helps protect both the safety of our schools and the quality of education we provide.