District proposes $2 million capital‑reserve spending on May ballot; facilities director lists project priorities

Cohoes — District administrators told the Cohoes City School District Board of Education that the May ballot will include the annual budget, the board election and a capital‑reserve proposition authorizing up to $2,000,000 in spending from the district’s reserves.

Why it matters: district officials said the capital‑reserve proposition would not change the tax levy; it would authorize the board to spend reserve funds on identified projects if voters approve the proposition in May.

Facilities update: Bill Darcy, the district’s director of facilities, reviewed completed and outstanding work tied to the district’s capital program and in‑house maintenance. Darcy said two elevators referenced in the capital project have been put online and that high‑school phase‑2 items — stadium lights, bleachers, softball field upgrades and a partial roof — are largely complete. He said the softball field is currently playable but that final work remains: outfield drainage upgrades and dugout roofing and fencing adjustments. Darcy also described a recently resurfaced high‑school auditorium stage and replaced curtains and referenced lighting upgrades (LED stage lighting) that would reduce energy use.

Ongoing needs and audit: Darcy told the board he is recommending a district‑wide HVAC and mechanical audit because parts and labor costs have risen and because several systems are nearing or past their useful life. He said the district is also reviewing utility and service contracts (trash, phone, Internet) to ensure competitive pricing.

Capital reserve proposition details: district administrators said the $2,000,000 request — separate from the tax levy and payable from capital reserve funds — is intended to pay for items identified as priorities: exterior campus lighting at the high school and Harmony Hill, replacement and upgrades of auditorium lighting (house and audience area), construction of an athletics storage shed, a courtyard enhancement at the high school for outdoor student use and two walk‑in coolers (for the middle school and Abram Lansing) to expand fresh food capacity in the food service program. Officials emphasized the proposition simply authorizes spending from reserves and does not increase the tax levy.

Process and timing: board staff said the district will present the proposed budget and related materials again at the April 23 meeting, publish the required property tax report card by April 28, hold a public hearing on May 7 and place the budget vote and board election on the May 20 ballot.

Speakers: Bill Darcy (Director of Facilities); district administrators (budget staff who presented the ballot proposition and timeline).

Clarifying details: the proposed district budget figure presented elsewhere in the meeting was $54,865,497 (a 2.67% increase); administrators said the $2,000,000 capital reserve authorization would not affect the tax levy. Darcy described specific outstanding tasks: dugout roofing, outfield drainage work and fencing adjustments at the softball complex; stage floor resurfacing and new curtains at the high‑school auditorium; and recommended HVAC/mechanical audit because of rising costs and aging equipment.

Ending: The capital reserve proposition will appear as the third item on the May ballot; voters must approve the budget and any reserve spending per New York election rules.