FARMINGDALE – The Farmingdale Board of Education will ask residents to approve a $4.81 million referendum in order to make renovations at the Farmingdale Public School.
Residents will vote in a special election to be held on Sept. 26.
“The referendum includes basic building, security and safety upgrades that are essential to educating the students of Farmingdale,” Chief School Administrator Edith Conroy said.
Administrators said about 165 students attend the school which educates children in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
“Most districts do not have the ability to do a renovation like this without going out for a referendum because their budgets are just too small,” Conroy said.
Administrators said if the referendum is approved, state funding will cover up to 40 percent of the project costs, leaving Farmingdale’s property owners to fund the remaining 60 percent.
If the referendum is approved, the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would pay an estimated $12 per month more in K-8 school taxes for the life of the 20-year bond.
The owner of a home assessed at $200,000 would pay an estimated $23 per month more in K-8 school taxes for the life of the 20-year bond.
The owner of a home assessed at $300,000 would pay an estimated $34 per month more in K-8 school taxes for the life of the 20-year bond, according to administrators.
Administrators said they believe that asking residents to approve a multimillion dollar referendum is a more cost-effective approach than a “pay as we go” method which would be more costly and take longer to complete.
“These are things we need now. Requesting a boiler system to heat the building during the winter is not a luxury. These are necessities that are needed to have an environment that is conducive to learning. We are just looking to replace and renovate systems that we need to function as a school district and institution,” Business Administrator Karen Minutolo said.
Administrators said the current equipment and facilities are at the end or beyond their useful life and are inefficient.
“The items that are on the list need to be renovated and updated,” Conroy said.
The most recent renovations to the school were made 25 years ago when the middle school wing was added.
Residents will vote yes or no on the bonding ballot proposal that will state, “The Board of Education … is authorized to undertake a school facilities project consisting of roof replacement; fire alarm system replacement; replacement of water heaters, boilers and HVAC equipment and system controls with energy efficient systems; security, communication and handicap/ADA upgrades and renovations; window replacement; site repair and regrading; interior and exterior door replacements and upgrades for security, accessibility and energy efficiency; toilet room upgrades; flooring and lighting replacement; and building envelope improvements.
“The board is authorized to expend on such project and issue bonds for such project in an amount not to exceed $4,814,615, thus using up $506,796 of the $4,565,537 borrowing margin of the Borough of Farmingdale previously available for other improvements. The state has agreed to provide debt service aid in the amount of 40 percent of the ‘final eligible costs’ of the school facilities project. The project’s ‘final eligible costs’ are $4,806,165.”