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SARANAC — Saranac Central School officials have provided the community with information on the proposed $17.5 million capital project.
Now, they hope residents turn out to vote today and make an informed decision.
The vote on the capital project is from noon to 8 p.m. at the Saranac Middle School gym.
"The compelling force, again, is we have problematic, inefficient, failing heating systems, and the district needs to address that as soon as possible," said Saranac Central School Superintendent Ken Cringle.
More than 80 percent of Saranac's $17.5 million project is energy and technology related and includes work at Saranac Middle/High School and Morrisonville and Saranac elementary schools.
The plan includes a 3,000-square-foot addition at Saranac Elementary School that would house classroom space and the District Office, now located in a building near Dannemora Elementary School.
That building is part of a preliminary sales agreement with a prospective buyer that also includes the school buildings in Cadyville and Dannemora that were closed in July 2006.
The District Office in Dannemora, which is now 6,000 square feet, racks up nearly $20,000 in energy and maintenance costs and does not qualify for aid reimbursement since it is not connected to a building with students.
The district will receive $583,878 in EXCEL funding. The project total also qualifies for 90-percent reimbursement from New York state. That would reduce the annual cost to taxpayers to roughly $100,000 annually for 15 years, which would equate to about 16 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The taxpayer obligation wouldn't start for about two years.
The district estimates the project would result in annual energy savings of at least $211,000.
Still, taxpayers have expressed concerns about taking on any sort of project during tough economic times.
Further, they worry the state could pull out of its funding obligation to put more money toward its deficit.
"I have told the public that, at least historically and legally, once a project goes through the proper channels and receives community support and State Education Department approval, the state is obligated to the funding commitment," Cringle said.
He stressed that the district has equipment that is constantly failing and costly and that boilers have far exceeded their life expectancy. The district also has neglected to keep pace with technology over the years, Cringle said.
"I think in light of the economic conditions, I hope the community sees the value in preserving and maintaining energy-efficient buildings and upgrading our technology.
"It is opportunistic, since projected energy cost savings for this project are projected at $211,000 per year, coupled with a one-time EXCEL grant directly applied to reduce the tax impact on taxpayers," Cringle said.
"I am hoping that community residents will make an informed decision based on the information we have been able to disseminate."
E-mail Stephen Bartlett at: sbartlett@pressrepublican.com
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