A Capital Improvement Project will go to voters in the Waterville Central School District in February.
The $18.6 million project will be the most expensive and encompassing improvements put to voters in District history.
However, approving the project will not change the tax rate due to money saved for it and state aid reimbursement.
Work at Memorial Park School includes adding air conditioning, safety enhancements, and redesigning the drop-off parking lot.
New lockers will replace ones that are too small and the building will get a new fire alarm system.
The Junior-Senior High School will also get a new fire alarm system.
The gym floor will be replaced, a Regents storage space created, and the water issues on the baseball and softball fields will be fixed.
The bus garage will have lighting updates and get a new lift.
Waterville’s state aid reimbursement is 89.7 percent, meaning 89.7 cents of every $1 spent is paid for by the state.
The remaining 10.3 percent will be paid for by WCS through reserve savings set aside over the years, totaling $700,000.
That means taxes do not have to be raised to cover the cost of the project.
Residents will receive a mailing outlining the project in late January; the public hearing is set for Feb. 4.
From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 11 residents can vote on approving the project.
Board members said it is important for residents to understand that while their school property taxes will go up next year, it will not be because of the project.
WCs Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Spring and Business Manager Cynthia Amarosa said carrying debt, such as with a project, is fiscally responsible.
Debt drives aid for following years and plays favorably with the state tax cap formula used each year.
The meeting began with an executive session for the Board, then a break to see a performance by the High School Percussion group before the Winter Concert the next night.
Also at last week’s meeting, MPS Principal Kathy Zangrilli gave an hour-long presentation of the elementary school By the ...