The proposed Rye City School District School Bond, to be voted on December 13, has elicited an unprecedented amount of comment by residents, including numerous letters to this paper. The bond addresses overcapacity at the Rye High/Middle School campus, and will pay for 12 new science classrooms with current science labs converted into regular classroom space.

 

By Jim Byrne

 

The proposed Rye City School District School Bond, to be voted on December 13, has elicited an unprecedented amount of comment by residents, including numerous letters to this paper. The bond addresses overcapacity at the Rye High/Middle School campus, and will pay for 12 new science classrooms with current science labs converted into regular classroom space.

The School Board argues that District enrollment has gone up 50% in 15 years, and pointed out that the class of 2007 had 174 students while the class of 2017 will have 261. The Committee for Strong, Sustainable Schools has countered, “If school taxes increase by 33% in the next five years, will your income increase by 33%?” The District, however, fired back that the 33% figure is a complete manipulation of the numbers, calling it an apples to oranges comparison and that the five-year increase is closer to 20%. Current District projections include debt that would be added if the December 13 bond vote is approved, and show taxes increasing 23.12% over a five-year period.

With pension costs hamstringing the District and expected to increase nearly $1 million every year for the next five school years, annual tax levy projections equate to increases of 5.98, 5.39, 4.32, 3.73, and 3.70% through 2016-17. If given the green light, the bond would amortize over 20 years at a 3.5% interest rate, and its impact would be felt in full in the 2013-14 school year. According to Assistant Superintendent for Business Kathleen Ryan, once the debt is initially added to the budget in 2013-14, its impact on the tax rate increases in future years is diminished. The following forecasts assume no program cuts.

 

For the average Rye homeowner, the bond impact would be an additional $47 in 2012-13, and between $301-318 the following four years. District projections assume that $660,000 of fund balance is used each year to lower taxes, as well as $500,000-700,000 in tax certiorari refunds. State aid expected to be generated by the project is an estimated 14%, which the District says will further offset bond costs.

 

“The Board has been evaluating our space needs for more than five years,” said School Board Vice President Ray Schmitt. “With the high/middle school complex already over 100% of its functional capacity, and with enrollment continuing to grow, we have run out of places to educate students that are already in the District.”

 

He added, “Additional portables do not make economic sense, especially since the latest enrollment projections show our elementary schools remaining at current levels, which means that we will continue to be above capacity as these students move up through the District. And our science labs are beyond their serviceable lives and will impact our program if not brought up to current standards.”

 

Much has been discussed and written about the $15.8 million the District has in reserves. Writes resident Jono Peters, “Our School Board, having amassed nearly $16 million in cash, is asking to borrow $20 million, which will increase our taxes by 33% over the next five years before budgeting for staff to fill the new classrooms … This project lacks the discipline and hard choices that current circumstances demand.”

 

At the November 29 School Board meeting, Ed Fox clarified how the $15.8 million was earmarked. He said $1.9 million was used in the current year’s budget to reduce the tax rate, with another $5.9 million in the tax certiorari reserve to pay settlements. He called the $2.7 million in the undesignated balance the District’s “rainy day fund”, and noted the remaining $4.7 million is reserved to defray costs the District incurs for the Employee Retirement Service program.

 

The polling location at the Rye Middle School Multipurpose Room will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

 

 

Anonymous Donor Hopes to Fund New Field and Field House

One Rye resident is taking “the giving season” to a new level. At the November 29 Board of Education meeting, attorney Julian Wise notified the community that his client, who requests anonymity, wishes to donate half the funds necessary for construction of a new field and field house on the Rye High/Middle School campus.

 

Wise said his client is willing to give $1.7 million, to be used specifically for this project, if the District can raise the other half. The funds would be donated incrementally once the donor is assured the remaining $1.7 million is secured. The project was on the table for the current proposed $20 million bond, but was ultimately not included in its scope.

 

“On behalf of the Board I’d like to offer our deep gratitude,” said President Laura Slack. “We are sure the community will respond, and we’re humbled by the magnitude of the gift.”