On Thursday June 26, voters in the Liverpool Central School District will again go to the polls to decide whether or not to approve some $40 million in capital projects throughout the district.
In February, district residents rejected a $44.5 million proposal to renovate Liverpool Elementary, Liverpool Middle School and portions of the Wetzel Road campus and to replace the stadium at Liverpool High School. Next week, they’ll vote on two reworked proposals.
“We did an exit poll after the last vote, and the voters told us what they were concerned about,” Superintendent Jan Matousek said at a public hearing on the vote Monday June 16. “They wanted them separated out. They didn’t want to vote on both on the same ballot. We’ve done that.”
Indeed, the projects have been split into two propositions. One deals only with the building repairs, while the other addresses the stadium. To see what’s included in each, see the breakout boxes on page 6.
The proposal differs also differs from that presented to the voters in February in that it’s been financed over a shorter term. While the last proposal would have been paid for with 21-year serial bonds, this one will be paid for over 15 years.
“It’s like a mortgage,” Matousek said. “You can take out a 25-year loan, or you can take out a 15-year loan. With the shorter loan, your payments are higher, but you pay it off sooner.”
The new proposal includes some cutbacks. The district is no longer seeking a performing arts center between LE and LMS, and some of the less-needed repairs to the buildings have been cut. But the district was reluctant to cut more than that.
“These are needed repairs,” Matousek said. “This isn’t a ‘want.’ It’s a ‘need.'”
The renovations include classroom expansions, mechanical and electrical upgrades, energy efficiency moves and repairs to bring the schools and stadium into compliance with ADA regulations.
The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday June 26.
“We wanted to open them earlier in case that’s the only time people can get to the polls,” Matousek said. “It’s the last day of school, so maybe people are leaving town, but we want to make sure they vote before they go.”
Polling places are Chestnut Hill Middle School, the Liverpool Public Library, Nate Perry Elementary School, Liverpool High School and the Soule Road complex.
Proposition No. 1
The project is proposed to cost $34,294,000. Of that, $2,133,289 would come from EXCEL Aid and $2,768,000 from the district’s Capital Reserve Fund. It calls for a tax rate increase of 1.621 percent in the fall of 2010, or approximately $38.46 for a $100,000 house.
The capital improvement project calls for significant repairs to Liverpool Middle School and Liverpool Elementary School and smaller repairs at Wetzel Road Elementary, Educational Community Center and the high school.
The following repairs would be made at the village complex:
Improve student walkways
Rework the drop-off and pick-up areas
Create a safer on-site traffic pattern
Add additional parking
Improve exterior site drainage
Renovate the athletic fields
The following repairs would be made at Liverpool Middle School:
Building envelope (doors, windows, floors, etc.)
Interior building renovations
Expand the gym
Expand the art room
New music room and library
Science/lab renovations
Update the mechanical and electrical systems
Kitchen/cafeteria expansion
Improve crawlspace drainage
The following repairs would be made at Liverpool Elementary School:
Building envelope
Interior building renovations
Improve crawlspace drainage
Gym and locker room expansion
Expand art and music rooms
Renovate gym into new library
Update the mechanical and electrical systems
Kitchen expansion
The following repairs would be made at Wetzel Road Elementary:
Add new interior lighting
Add new interior ceilings
The following repairs would be made at the ECC:
Window/door replacements
Parking renovation
The following repairs would be made at the high school:
Electrical upgrades
Proposition No. 2
The project is proposed to cost $6,300,000. Of that, $200,000 would come from EXCEL Aid, $250,000 from the district’s Capital Reserve Fund and $110,000 from the district’s Turf Reserve Fund. It calls for a tax rate increase of 0.199 percent in the fall of 2010, or approximately $4.75 for a $100,000 house.
The capital improvement project calls for a complete renovation of the athletic stadium at Liverpool High School. The following repairs would be made:
Replace turf and improve drainage
Replace track surface and improve drainage
Relocate track and field events
Replace field lighting and scoreboard
Replace bleachers (seating for 3,000)
New press box
Improvements to restroom and concession stand
Parking expansion (additional 500 spots)
