A Sept. 11 public hearing will be held on proposed renovations or expansions to school buildings in Turner, Leeds and Greene.
By Jody Goodwin
Special to the Sun Journal

TURNER – This month, voters in the SAD 52 towns of Turner, Leeds and Greene will decide the fate of four proposed building projects at a cost of $6,340,000.

A public hearing on the projects will be held Thursday, Sept. 11.

Voters will be asked to consider the $6,340,000 package in a Sept. 23 referendum.

None of the projects has been approved for state funding, but some state help could be received if the projects meet specific criteria, said SAD 52 Business Manager Chris Trenholm. The criteria for the Revolving Renovation Loan Fund include health and safety compliance issues, renovations not related to health and safety and the upgrade of learning spaces and program upgrades.

“We have a good opportunity to receive some funding for these projects,” Trenholm said. “We will be applying for perhaps upwards of 40 to 50 percent of the total project. But many schools in the rest of the state will be doing so as well.”

Any funds received as part of the Revolving Renovation Fund would be forgiven at the district’s estimated 63 percent reimbursement rate. The remainder would have to be paid back on an interest-free basis.

Any local monies needed to complete the project would be bonded over a 10-year period. This loan would then be levied on the local tax bills over 10 years. As an example, Trenholm said a $4 million bond over 10 years would raise local mill rates by 1 mill.

“We will have final figures from the state as to what amount we may qualify for from the revolving fund before we apply for permanent bonding financing, if the voters approve the projects,” Trenholm said.

Major additions and renovations are proposed for both Tripp Middle School in Turner and Greene Central School. Both of these projects have been prompted, in part, by the state’s phasing out of funding for leased space. By the 2006-07 school year, the state will no longer reimburse school districts for any funds used to lease classroom space.

Some students at both Greene Central and Tripp are currently using portable classrooms at those sites at an annual cost of approximately $77,000. If those spaces are not replaced with permanent classrooms, the local taxpayers would be totally responsible for that cost, Trenholm explained, and there would still be no upgrades to the facilities.

The public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, in the Leavitt Area High School cafeteria in Turner. Polls will be open in the three district towns for voting on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Check with your town office for poll opening times.

jgoodwin@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link