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Three Village staff recommend $123 million bond for repairs; board weighs smaller alternative and proposition structure
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Summary
District staff presented a recommended $123 million bond to fund deferred maintenance and systems upgrades across the district, outlined building-aid reimbursement (66%), cost and phasing details, and discussed a possible smaller $98 million package or a two‑proposition approach that could separate optional items such as artificial turf.
District business and facilities staff presented a detailed analysis at the Oct. 22, 2025 Board of Education meeting recommending a $123 million capital bond to address aging buildings, major repairs, and system upgrades across the Three Village Central School District.
Jeff Carlson (district staff) told the board the bond committee unanimously recommended the full $123 million scope, which would fund repairs and renovations such as masonry and cupola restoration, heating and boiler system replacements, electrical and plumbing upgrades, playground and pavement work, bathroom renovations, pool and pool‑mechanical system work, and stadium/field infrastructure. Carlson said the work consists primarily of renovations rather than building additions.
Carlson said the district’s building-aid ratio is 66 percent and explained how state building-aid reimbursement would offset local costs if the work is done through a bond and phased in as debt service. "Our aid ratio is 66%," Carlson said, adding that the state reimburses the district over 15 years for the categories of work in the proposed bond. He presented two scenarios: the recommended $123 million bond and a reduced package of about $98 million that would delay some projects.
Using an illustrative 3.5 percent interest rate, Carlson estimated the gross annual debt service for the $123 million option at about $10.66 million. With building-aid of roughly $7 million annually, Carlson estimated an annual local share of about $3.624 million, which he said equates to about $275 per year for the average Three Village household. Under the $98 million option, Carlson estimated an average household difference of about $219 per year — a $56 annual difference compared with the full bond.
Carlson and facilities staff walked the board through pictured examples of masonry deterioration, roof and cupola degradation, aging boiler-room equipment, failing sidewalks and parking lots, pool mechanical rooms, drainage and flooding at NASAUKE, and other deferred maintenance needs. He described regulatory drivers that make public construction costly (prevailing‑wage and Wicks Law requirements), the need for construction management, and the importance of including contingency and inflation in cost estimates.
Board members discussed whether to include certain optional items — notably artificial turf for the high‑school sports field — in the bond package or to place it in a separate proposition. Several board members said they favored presenting two propositions to voters (a primary package and an additional package that would include items such as turf), while others argued for a single proposition to reduce the risk of higher borrowing costs if interest rates rise. A majority of board members also emphasized the district’s limited ongoing capital budget (current annual capital projects funding was cited at $1.5 million) and the need to restore a sustainable capital program.
No final vote was taken. Carlson asked the board to be prepared to call the referendum at the Nov. 5 board meeting if members were ready to decide on the bond date and final scope. He recommended Jan. 20, 2026, as a referendum date that would provide time for legal notices and allow the district to know results before preparing the 2026–27 budget.
The board asked staff to produce final cost estimates for both the $123 million and the reduced $98 million options, and to provide more detail on optional items such as turf and air‑conditioning projects so the board can decide whether to offer one or two propositions to voters at a future meeting.
