By Paul J. Condra
On May 21, when the school district presents to voters the proposed 2002-2003 budget, it will also seek approval of a proposition to use money from the Capitol Reserve fund. The proposition asks that $631,000 of the fund be used for two projects in Lynbrook schools.
Since the money is already in the district coffers, there would be no tax needed to raise it. The board only seeks voter-permission to use it.
The fund, voted into existence last year, has swelled to the amount of $691,341, according to school officials. Now school officials are ready to tap into it, an act that requires voter approval first.
According to Lynbrook School Board president Phyllis Caruso, the needed repairs to Lynbrook schools are exactly what the fund was set up for. She said the money left over after the bills are paid goes into the fund. For example, if heating costs weren't as high as budgeted, the left over money would go to the fund. Having the ability to use the money now is especially relevant in the coming budget as state school-aid is expected to be particularly tight this year.
The two projects for which the money will be used if passed by voters include renovations at South Middle School and the Marion Street School. School officials said the band and technology rooms at South Middle School need to be reconfigured and switched to meet increasing enrollment, a $289,000 project.
At Marion Street, the Board of Education wants to spend $342,000 on replacing the bleachers. The new seats will have 10 tiers with enough room for 1,400 people, and will be wheelchair accessible.
Though officials said taxpayers should expect the school-tax to go up this year, they stress the proposition to use the reserve fund will not affect it whatsoever. It is a completely separate proposition for which the money already exists.
Using the Capital Reserve to fund these projects prevents our budget from increasing an additional $631,000,
