District discussing $150,000 in capital expenses

By NATHAN LAMB | Milton Independent Staff Writer
miltonreporter@yahoo.com

A number of big-ticket items are needed at the high school, and that should factor prominently into this year’s round of budget talks, according to school officials.

The topic was discussed at the School Board’s Nov. 12 meeting, where a target of $150,000 in capital requests for each of the next three years was presented.

Likely requests for FY09 focused on the high school and included $50,000 to repair and reseal the building envelope and $40,000 to install an eight-inch water main to the school.

Superintendent of schools Marty Waldron described the former as necessary to prevent moisture infiltration, while the latter is a fire prevention measure required if the facility switches to wood-chip heat.

Also on the list is $17,335 to lease a plow/ dump truck, $20,000 to replace aged walk-in coolers at the high school cafeteria and $5,000 for a hot water booster at the high school. All are needed to replace equipment that’s reached the end of its useful lifespan, said school business manager Don Johnson after the meeting.

In a follow-up interview, Johnson eschewed the term “deferred maintenance” but instead cited age of the high school, historic restrictions on the maintenance budget, and lack of facilities director before 2007 as reasons the building now needs investment.

“I think we’ve stopped the decline and we started to repair things that fit within the budget this year,” he said. “…These items aren’t a wish list.”

The goal of earmarking capital funds prior to budget talks has been a recurring agenda item for the School Board this fall. Since the district’s capital needs outstrip its immediate spending power, school administrators have worked at length this fall to prioritize items on the capital list.

The FY10 budget included replacements of the gym floors ($128,000) and lockers ($30,000) at the high school and another $17,000 for the plow lease. The FY11 projections showed upgrades throughout the district to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and new interior doors at the high school.

While the board informally agreed with the list as presented on Nov. 12, further discussion would focus more on how those requests would fit into the budget, explained board Chairman Doug Stout. It isn’t clear yet whether those expenses would be included within the base budget, separate warrant articles, or through bonding, and he said the board will need to clarify that.