Averill Park staff propose $1M Algonquin water-connection in referendum using prior project savings
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Summary
District staff told the board they estimate about $1 million is needed to bring municipal water into Algonquin and to the school; they proposed using savings and contingency funds from recent capital projects so the work would not require new taxpayer dollars and said a resolution to add the item to the referendum will be presented at the next board meeting.
Unidentified Speaker 1 reported that the Town of Coastal New York has established a Second Order District that will require the district to connect Algonquin to the municipal water system. He said the estimated cost to bring the connection to the road and into the school is around $1,000,000 and outlined funding options.
"It would not be any new money. It would just be using money or you want it approved," Unidentified Speaker 1 said, describing a plan to reallocate savings from the nearly completed $28,500,000 project and to use contingency funds from the $39,900,000 2024 project. The presenter emphasized that while no new net cost to taxpayers is intended, any reallocation requires formal board approval and public notice consistent with capital-project rules.
Board members and staff discussed timing and the referendum process. Unidentified Speaker 6 said staff planned to present a resolution at the next board meeting to add the capital project to the public notices and ballot, and that the wording for the referendum would be settled before publication. Unidentified Speaker 2 credited the owner's representative for cost savings that made the reallocation possible.
No final vote to place the item on the referendum occurred at the meeting; staff outlined next steps for approval and public communications and said the matter will return as a formal resolution for board action.