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Town, BOE debate bonding authorization and special appropriation to fast‑track stadium scoreboard
Summary
Officials agreed in principle to seek a bonding authorization and a special appropriation path for a stadium scoreboard so it can be installed before fall; multiple FY26 capital items were proposed for reduction or deferral to offset budget pressure.
Town and school officials discussed scaling back several FY26 capital requests and using existing or alternative funding paths to preserve high‑priority projects. A special appropriation or bonding authorization was proposed to accelerate purchase and installation of a scoreboard at Dunning Stadium.
A Board of Education representative said a scoreboard installed through a special appropriation would be ready for fall if approved in April or early May; waiting until the regular budget cycle in July, the presenter said, would likely delay installation until after fall. "If we can wrap get through that by May, early May, we're guaranteed to have it up and ready to go for the fall," the presenter said. Town staff confirmed that the town council would need to authorize the bonding and that the item could be included in a bonding authorization rather than as an unspecified operating appropriation.
Officials also itemized capital reductions the district proposed to trim its FY26 ask: masonry repointing reduced by $250,000, painting by $80,000, a middle‑school ceiling tile replacement reduced by $100,000 (from $250,000), energy‑conservation/CHP work reduced by $150,000 while the district evaluates the payback, and a $50,000 reduction to a Saks courtyard resurfacing request (from $150,000 to $100,000), among other line‑by‑line adjustments. The PTC indicated it would fund the East walking trail ($30,000) through fundraising.
Why it matters: Board and town staff said reallocating or deferring capital will both reduce FY26 tax‑supported requests and give time to pursue bonding or special‑appropriation routes for time‑sensitive equipment.
Next steps: Finance staff said they will prepare required notices and an authorization package for the town council and will return with final numbers and bond‑premium estimates before the Tuesday public hearing and Thursday budget vote.
