Watertown City School District proposes $110 million capital project, district says no tax increase if voters approve

Watertown City School District officials presented a proposed $110,000,000 capital project at a public hearing that would repair roofs, replace aging boilers, upgrade fire alarms and add secure entrances across multiple schools and district buildings, and said the plan would have no local tax increase if voters approve the project on March 25.

The proposal, presented by district consultants and administrators, focuses on three priorities: “warm, safe and dry” facilities, energy-efficiency upgrades including steam-to-hot-water boiler conversions, asbestos abatement where required, and accessibility and site improvements such as reconstructed parking lots, improved drainage and ADA compliance. District leaders said most project work would be aid-eligible under New York State building aid rules and that the project package was shaped to maximize that aid while remaining tax-neutral.

Why it matters: many of the district’s mechanical systems are beyond their useful life, officials said, and some classrooms and corridors pose safety or accessibility concerns. A voter-approved capital project would unlock state building aid the district says will cover the large majority of the cost; the district also plans to use a previously voter-authorized $10,000,000 capital reserve and time new borrowing to…