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Babylon School District bond vote set for February 13th Concerns that taxpayer money be spent wisely pervaded the atmosphere at the informational meeting the Babylon School District held for the community on Monday, January 29, 2007. About 30 residents attended the public meeting, which was called by the board and district to present details about the proposed $9.35 million Health and Safety Infrastructure Bond Referendum. Residents will vote on the proposition on Tuesday, February 13, 2007. Residents questioned the proposed contingency and professional fees, which, according to resident Frank Fergurson, seem extremely high at 14 percent. Professional fees are paid to the architectural firm, bond counsel, and others, while contingency fees are included in the total to account for any unforeseen expenses the district might incur during construction. "We can't put ourselves in a situation and ask voters to approve a bond and perhaps not have enough money to do the things outlined in the proposal," said Peter Daly, assistant superintendent for business for Babylon Schools. "We don't know [right now] what the actual bids will be. There are monies in here in excess of what we expect, but we try to cut it as close as possible." The Health and Safety Bond calls for a variety of projects at each of Babylon's three school buildings. These include roofing replacements, asphalt paving repair and replacement, ceiling and lighting replacements, landscaping and irrigation work, renovations to the high school gyms, among other items. "This bond is for much-needed infrastructure health and safety repairs throughout the district," said Daly. "The areas were rated based on their condition and age in relation to the useful life of the structure or system." State education law requires school districts to use a licensed architect and/or engineer, when conducting the Building Condition Survey, which must be completed every five years. The proposed Health and Safety Bond is the result of what was found in the Building Condition Survey. "Maybe we should have someone look at the [buildings] all the time, and not just every five years," said one resident. "The architect did the inspection and he has all the answers too. There are no checks and balances." "This bond proposal represents two years of deliberate consideration. We came up with what we believe is in the best interest of the school district," said school board member Thomas Melito. "This is the best estimate of what makes the most sense for our district. We need everything in here...Treat this project with the respect it deserves." If this bond proposal is approved, the average annual debt service to homeowners will be about $380, when costs from all outstanding previous bonds are factored in. The $9.35 million bond proposal will cost the average homeowner approximately $97 per year more in school taxes. This is the second time the district is presenting this $9.35 million Health and Safety Infrastructure Bond to voters. Residents turned the measure down in November 2006. Should the February 13 vote also fail, the district cannot present this bond proposal again until November 2007. The school district will receive state building aid of 46.3 percent on the debt service payment of $842,079, as well as state EXCEL aid, bringing the net annual cost of the bond issue to $425,009. This represents an increase in the tax rate of about $1.4 percent.
Another informational meeting about the bond proposal is set for Monday, February 12, 2007 at 8:15 PM in the Babylon Memorial Grade School cafeteria. The vote takes place Tuesday, February 13, 2007 from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Grade School.
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