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Board discusses rising BOCES and facilities costs, capital-outlay push to $250,000
Summary
Board members and staff flagged higher BOCES administrative charges, energy-delivery and software costs, staffing shortages for buildings and grounds, and a push to raise the state capital-outlay threshold from $100,000 to $250,000 to make LED and HVAC upgrades feasible.
District staff told the board that buildings-and-grounds operations are under pressure from staffing shortages, higher overtime and rising software and energy-delivery costs. The presenter said roughly 10 custodial positions remain vacant and that overtime and software subscriptions contributed to a 6.38% increase in the Buildings & Grounds component; a $30,000 BOCES-related increase was also noted.
Capital projects and outlay: The presenter described a $500,000 transfer project intended to fund lighting replacement in gymnasiums and upgrades to electrical panels and localized HVAC, and a separate $100,000 capital-outlay line currently earmarked for LED conversions at Willink. Board members discussed advocacy to raise the per-project capital-outlay threshold to $250,000 so projects on Long Island are feasible; Brian said he will travel to Albany to press the case.
Transportation and contracts: Transportation costs are rising — the district reported a roughly 5% increase in transportation spending tied to overtime and higher contractor rates after a recent bid (Ontario Bus Company was identified as the contractor that won the bid and whose costs were higher). Presenter said some contractor capacity changes mean the district can buy slots quickly but at higher cost.
Next steps: Staff will continue to prioritize projects that generate additional building aid and will report on the capital-outlay advocacy and bid outcomes in later workshops.
