Amherst board recommends May ballot votes to fund high‑school heating conversion; larger gym/auditorium work proposed separately

The Amherst Central School District on Monday heard a detailed update on its multi‑phase $68.7 million capital project and a recommendation to put related borrowing propositions before voters in May.

Presenters told the board that rising labor and materials costs since the referendum have driven up construction estimates across the project. A project representative said the district’s Phase 3 — which includes converting the high school from steam to a hot‑water heating system, upgrading auditorium theatrical systems, and renovating the South Gym — is now estimated at about $44,800,000, compared with a pre‑referendum Phase 3 estimate of roughly $20,300,000.

Why it matters: presenters said the high‑school heating work is time‑sensitive because the building’s boiler systems date from the 1950s and are “well beyond their useful life,” and State Education Department (SED) temperature requirements could affect the district’s ability to open the high school if heat cannot be maintained.

The capital committee presented three options to cover remaining work and recommended that the board place three items on the May ballot: the annual budget vote, a Proposition 2 tax‑neutral authorization of $12,500,000 to fund the heating conversion (the committee described that $12.5M as potentially delivered using about $7.5M in new borrowing plus $5.0M in district cash), and a Proposition 3 $17,000,000 tax‑impact authorization to add gym and some auditorium work. The committee proposed that Proposition 3 be contingent on passage of Proposition 2 so the heating work is protected if voters reject a tax increase.

Presenters and board members discussed tradeoffs and scope reductions already taken to control costs, including cutting auditorium seating/finishes and some locker‑room and auxiliary items; presenters cited examples of value engineering and direct procurement that lowered the starting construction numbers for earlier phases. They also cautioned that field conditions (for example, long sewer runs encountered in earlier work) and volatile local demand for construction labor have created uncertainty in final pricing.

The board discussed whether to pair the borrowing authorization with the May budget vote (to increase turnout and present the work as part of the existing project rather than a new referendum) and agreed that timing and ballot language would be important for public communication. Presenters outlined a conservative schedule: begin design immediately, target SED submission and review in 2026, aim for Fall 2026 bidding, and, if approvals proceed as planned, award major contracts for a construction period in 2027–28 so the new heating system would be available for the 2028–29 heating season.

Next steps: the board indicated broad support for the committee’s recommended approach and asked staff to continue developing ballot language, schedule details, and stakeholder outreach. The district will also keep the public informed on cost assumptions and the specific scope tied to each proposition.