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Board reviews extensive referendum projects, $1M proposed capital spending and maintenance reserves
Summary
Business administrator Brian Smythe described referendum work and proposed capital spending; administrators said much referendum work is planned for the summer and that $1 million in capital projects is proposed in the draft budget funded from reserves.
Brian Smythe, the district’s business administrator, reviewed building maintenance, custodial, grounds, transportation and capital categories as part of the 2025–26 draft budget at the Feb. 25 workshop and described how the 2022 $66.6 million referendum informs planned summer projects.
Smythe said required maintenance accounts and capital projects are funded from district reserve accounts and cited proposed withdrawals: a $1,000,000 withdrawal from capital reserve to fund capital projects and a $700,000 withdrawal from the maintenance reserve for expected maintenance needs. He said these reserve-funded categories are separate from the general-fund tax-levy calculations.
Smythe summarized major referendum-related projects that are expected to be underway or completed over the coming months, totaling roughly $35 million for items including large HVAC renovation work at Central Elementary School, Wall High School and Wall Intermediate School; toilet-room renovations at multiple elementary schools; auditorium, art and technology-room renovations at the high school; locker-room renovations; major mechanical-system replacements; and athletics-field improvements. Smythe said some projects are already awarded and some — including athletic improvements and turf — are expected to go out to bid in the near term with summer construction schedules being coordinated around the referendum work.
He also reviewed maintenance-line increases such as electricity and water, noting uncertainty in market rates, and outlined grounds and custodial account increases to maintain athletic fields and building function. Smythe said the district applies for bus-replacement grants annually and budgets routine vehicle and equipment replacement and that student transportation totals more than $6 million in the draft budget, including staff and contracted services.
Smythe said the district will continue to coordinate detailed schedules and contractor work in finance and facilities committee meetings and that some project timing may be adjusted based on contractor availability and overlapping referendum work.
