Duanesburg voters to decide proposed school district capital project

DUANESBURG — Voters will decide the fate of a $28 million capital project put forth by the Duanesburg Central School District after the school board on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution advancing the proposal.

In a 5-0 vote, board members formally approved the scope of the project, which includes borrowing $22 million and using $6 million in reserve funds for upgrades at the district’s two schools and bus garage. Board members Sarah Gwiazdowski and Toni Amorosi were not in attendance for the vote.

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Voters will ultimately determine the future of the project during a Dec. 8 referendum that will take place from 1 to 9 p.m. at the Junior/Senior High School library, located at 163 School Drive in Delanson.

Last month, the district unveiled plans for what it is calling the “Centennial Capital Project,” which, if approved, would see new roofs put on the district’s aging elementary school and junior/senior high school along with upgrades to the kitchen, cafeteria and certain classrooms in both buildings.

Plans also call for both facade and mechanical upgrades to both buildings, as well as the addition of office space to the district’s bus garage.

The project is projected to have no impact on taxpayers, which the district has attributed to expiring debt and a 79.8% reimbursement in capital aid from the state, which would see the district receive 79.8 cents for every dollar spent on the upgrades.

Community members will be able to ask questions about the project during a Nov. 15 forum that will take place at 6 p.m., ahead of the school board’s regularly scheduled meeting.

Contact reporter Chad Arnold at: [email protected] Follow him on Twitter: @ChadGArnold.