Warwick Valley School voters approve $10.8 million capital projects

By Abby Wolf
WARWICK —Voters in the Warwick Valley School District gave a big thumbs-up to the district’s $10.8 million capital project last Thursday.
The school board ratified the results of this vote at its regular monthly meeting on Monday evening.
The results: 582 in favor versus 160 against – a 78.4 percent approval rating.
There are 17,027 registered voters within the school district. The 742 votes cast in last Thursday’s vote represent 4.4 percent of all voters.
Nonetheless, Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Leach described the turnout as heavy; the number of district voters jumped 40 percent, compared to capital project votes in previous years, he said.
Leach reiterated that this project would have no financial impact on Warwick school taxpayers, given that the bulk of the funds will come from “aid that New York State offers to encourage communities to maintain their schools.
“As a matter of clarification," Leach added, "the capital project proposition referenced the tax levy, as the district is legally required to pledge the levy to any debt; however, state aid, along with the funds we’ve set aside in our capital reserve, eliminates any additional costs to taxpayers for this proposed capital project.”
The administration anticipates work to begin next summer (2018).
Potential impact of tax code revisionsDepending upon the final version of the United States Senate and House tax bills awaiting reconciliation, “significant changes in federal tax legislation are on the horizon,” according to Leach.
“I am particularly concerned that these changes could pose a significant challenge to our local taxpayers and school budget," the superintendent said. "Schools across New York are already shortchanged billions of dollars in state aid, and it has been reported that the state faces a potential $4.4 billion budget gap.
“Governor Andrew Cuomo expects to cover most of the deficit through unspecified cuts that come from holding state spending growth to 2 percent or less, according to the state’s revised financial plan, released on Dec. 8," Leach continued. "The new federal tax plan, if approved, has the potential to divert even more state and local funding from schools."
A provision of the tax plan would sharply reduce state and local tax (often called SALT) deductions – a proposal that could impact many Warwick residents. The average SALT deduction in New York State is $22,169, according to a report from the Government Finance Officers Association, using data from 2015.
"Voters whose tax burdens rise without the deductions may be less inclined to support our local school budgets," Leach said.
The superintendent pointed out that Cuomo said that this proposed federal tax change would be an “economic death blow” to New York.
WVSD partners with Jewish Federation to promote toleranceThe Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County hosted an event on Dec. 7 at the Newburgh Armory, in the form of a town hall structure and panel forum.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools James Yap was on the panel, as members discussed ways to combat anti-Semitism, racism, sexism and all forms of bigotry.
“The federation is developing a program for schools, working with the Warwick School District, to raise awareness of anti-Semitism and promote tolerance," Leach said. " It’s called the Zachor (from Hebrew for “Remember”) Initiative, and the federation invited other school districts to take part.”
Solar project updateLeach said that the district’s solar power project is nearly complete; the district expects it to begin generating electricity by New Year’s Day. ConEd is completing its tests of the solar field; Orange and Rockland Utilities are also completing their inspection: both testing and inspection should be done within a week, according to Leach.
The district spends about $500,000 annually on electricity; power generated by the district’s solar project will feed into O&R’s power grid, and in exchange, the district will receive a per/megawatt monetary credit.
Leach said that the credit will cover most – and in some years, all – of the district’s annual electricity costs. He said that the district is “conservatively projecting about a $250,000 yearly total net savings from the project.”
Other businessThe school board gave its blessing to several student field trips:
High school AP biology to SUNY New Paltz;
High school forensics class to the American Museum of Natural History;
High school music students class trip to the Metropolitan Opera on Jan. 19; and
Middle school Wire Choir to Nashville on June 24–29.
Next Regular meeting: Jan. 8, 7 p.m., at the Dorothy C. Wilson Education Center.
Work session: Special Education and budget update on Jan. 29, 7 p.m., at the Dorothy C. Wilson Education Center.