Chappaqua board discusses zero-emission bus study, fund-balance plan and a fundraising consultant for the Well project
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Summary
The district is studying zero-emission buses and conducting an energy audit while pursuing gradual fund-balance improvements and contracting a fundraising consultant for a capital project called the Well (World Economic Learning Lab); trustees discussed safeguards to avoid duplicative community fundraising.
District finance and operations staff described multiple initiatives aimed at reducing costs and generating revenue while modernizing facilities and operations.
On transportation and energy, administrators said the district is conducting an engineering study to evaluate where and how to site charging infrastructure for zero-emission buses and to estimate implementation costs. Simultaneously, Wendell Engineering is completing an energy audit of district buildings to compare expected utility use and identify solar, geothermal or envelope improvements.
On fund balance and revenue, the district reported a multi-year plan to increase reserves and reduce reliance on appropriated fund balance. Administrators are targeting a long-term fund-balance range roughly in the 18–22% band of the budget while gradually reducing appropriation from recent-year levels; the district plans a five‑year path to reduce reliance on fund balance and diversify revenues (proposed local-tax reliance moving from ~90% this year toward a target near 85% in the proposed budget).
The board also acknowledged a below‑RFP‑threshold consulting contract with Clara Sharp to begin targeted capital fundraising for the Well (World Economic Learning Lab). Trustees discussed community sensitivity to fundraising and confirmed the district's intention that consultant outreach would not compete with established community fundraising organizations. "We're piloting this... the Well was recently designed, so we felt like the numbers associated with that project were probably the most accurate," an administrator said when asked about scope.
Administrative motions acknowledging contracts and accepting financial reports were moved and approved by voice vote during the meeting.
Next steps: energy-audit findings and bus-study recommendations will inform capital planning; fund-balance strategies and revenue initiatives will be tracked over a five-year plan; administrators will monitor the pilot fundraising consultant and report results to the board.