Bethlehem Central board approves ballot referendum for $58.6 million capital project

The Bethlehem Central School District Board of Education voted to place a proposed 2025 capital bond referendum on the public ballot, approving a district resolution that will ask voters to authorize up to $58.6 million in work across the district. The board approved the resolution by voice vote at the regularly scheduled meeting; there was no roll-call tally recorded in the public transcript.

The bond proposal would fund renovations to outdated instructional spaces, targeted air-conditioning of common spaces and select second‑floor classrooms, and infrastructure and safety upgrades across the district’s nine buildings. Presenters framed the project as focused on classroom modernization, life-safety systems and preventive maintenance while using existing district reserves and debt capacity rather than increasing current tax rates.

District staff said the project as presented would be budget neutral for taxpayers. "The beauty of this project is it is budget neutral with no additional tax impacts for the residents," said Nick (project presenter), during the board presentation. Superintendent Jody Monroe and the administration reviewed project scope, timeline and outreach…