Somers board reviews $64.1 million tax-neutral capital improvement plan, targets May bond vote

The Somers Central School District Board of Education on Jan. 21 heard a detailed presentation of a proposed $64,100,000 capital improvement plan intended to be tax neutral if voters approve a bond in May.

The proposal consolidates building-condition needs identified in a 2019 survey into a prioritized package covering classroom upgrades, HVAC and electrical work, site and asphalt repairs, roofing and weatherization, track and playground replacements, and targeted auditorium, science and kitchen upgrades across Primrose, SIS, SMS, and SHS. Mike Lanterra, an engineer with H2M Architects and Engineers, told the board, “Right now we're at about $64,100,000; those are all in project costs for the items that we've prioritized.”

The plan matters to taxpayers because the presenters say the package would be funded from a combination of bond retirement, a proposed new bond and about $1.8 million in an existing capital reserve; kept within that package the district projects no increase to the local tax levy. H2M and the construction manager Triton outlined a number of high-cost items and tradeoffs made since an earlier point when the district’s wish list totaled about $106 million.

H2M described how the district reduced scope: removal of a proposed four-classroom addition at Primrose, postponing some window and exterior-door replacements and removing a proposed parent drop-off lane at the intermediate school because of cost-benefit concerns. The presenters also said they had chosen not to include district-wide air conditioning in the package because it would add roughly $1 million per school and about $2 million for the high school, though selected large-occupancy cooling upgrades are included.

On timelines and approvals, Lanterra described the next steps as a State Environmental Quality Review (SEQRA) process, formal board action to adopt a capital scope and a public information and presentation period. H2M and Triton proposed the following schedule: facilities committee recommendation Jan. 31; board confirmation of scope in February; a board resolution to adopt the project and seek voter approval in late March; early-April public presentations, with additional presentations planned April 22 and May 6; and a bond authorization vote on the May 20 ballot. If approved, design work would begin in summer 2025 with an anticipated SED (State Education Department) submission in November and SED review taking roughly 18–21 weeks; construction is targeted for the summers of 2026 and 2027 to minimize classroom disruption.

Presenters flagged several implementation uncertainties: the timeline and funding for state-mandated electric-bus charging infrastructure remain unclear and were therefore not included in the ask; some water-treatment and chlorination items require additional specialist approvals; and any design-additions such as building expansions would lengthen permitting and construction timelines. The presenters told the board that a detailed line-item spreadsheet of estimated costs exists and will be shared with the board and posted for public review.

Board members asked about public outreach and bidding. Lanterra and Triton said bidding for contractors would be public and undertaken by the district between April and June 2026 for projects that proceed, and the communications committee confirmed plans to create a dedicated bond-project tab on the district website, hold building-level presentations and offer tours so residents can see the needs the package would address.

The facilities presentation emphasized that most items are infrastructure- and maintenance-driven rather than immediate life-safety needs; H2M noted priority-1 (life-safety) items were minimal and already addressed. The team emphasized that the buildings are safe, but many systems are at or near the end of their useful lives and consolidating projects into a single bond improves efficiency and can secure state reimbursement for eligible items.

If the board advances the proposal, district officials plan to publish detailed costs and a line-by-line scope to help voters compare alternatives and understand the tax-neutral claim.

Ending: The board did not vote on the bond package at the Jan. 21 meeting; H2M and Triton will return with a facilities-committee recommendation and a final scope for board action in February. If the board approves a final scope, the district expects a public information campaign and the bond authorization to appear on the May 20 ballot.