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Sachem board explores facility rentals, land sales and radio station revenue amid $18M-plus deficit
Summary
Faced with a projected $18M+ deficit, the Sachem board asked its budget advisory committee to analyze revenue options including raising facility rental rates, renting or selling Tamarack/Grundy parcels, and making the district radio station financially self-sufficient or leasing it.
At its Nov. 6 meeting the Sachem Central School District board directed the budget advisory committee to explore new revenue streams to help close a projected $18,000,000-plus operating gap, with members discussing facility rentals, underused district land and the district radio station.
Budget advisory members said current facility rental rates (described in the meeting as as low as $3 per hour for some in-house uses) are far below market and that the district could seek commercial rentals from dance or theater companies, charging market rates while covering custodial and security costs. "Right now, our rates are are extremely cheap, $3 an hour," one committee member said.
The board discussed Tamarack (estimated in the meeting at roughly 4'6 acres) as unused district land that could be rented or sold, and compared that option to Grundy-area parcels previously sold or developed to generate recurring tax revenue. One member cautioned that selling property is permanent: "If you sell it, it's gone forever," another said, while others suggested testing rental demand first to create an ongoing revenue stream.
The district radio station also drew attention. Committee members said operating costs are significant (one speaker cited roughly $130,000 per year) and suggested several options: make the station self-supporting via advertising/donations where legally allowed, lease airwaves, accept underwriting/donations, or partner with a local university to sublet operations. The board noted Federal Communications Commission and noncommercial station rules limit some commercial activity and asked administration and legal counsel to clarify options.
Board members asked administration to bring back comparative data on what neighboring districts charge for facilities, a breakdown of transportation costs (home-to-school versus extracurricular), and legal guidance for contracts and potential sales. Committee chairs were asked to convene quickly so the board could include recommendations in the December'January budget cycle.
No formal decisions to sell property or dispose of the radio station were made during the public session; the board scheduled committee meetings and requested additional information and legal review before any binding action.
