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After failed bond, Brighton board debates using $4.1M unallocated capital for safety, HVAC and other projects
Summary
With about $4.1 million in unallocated capital funds after a failed bond, the board debated whether to prioritize safety vestibules, lockout systems, gym air conditioning and other upgrades now or wait for further planning and cost estimates; a board member asked administration to show a budget with a $1.5M reserve to help prioritize projects.
Board members spent a large portion of the May 27 workshop debating how to spend roughly $4.1 million the district currently holds in unallocated capital funds.
Administration said the capital projects fund contains about $4.1 million unallocated and reminded the board that some commitments (for example, a previously‑approved high‑school chiller purchase) remain in process. "About 4.1 million that is unallocated," the presenter said, and he described next steps for the chiller RFP and bid process with architects expecting installation documents around June 8.
Discussion among board members turned to prioritization after the bond measure failed, and members disagreed on process and priorities. Some argued for immediately moving on items they called "must‑dos," including vestibule security upgrades and a lockout system recommended by law enforcement. Others said some projects originally planned for the bond were intentionally deferred to the bond process and need reappraisal before being funded from the capital account.
Examples cited during debate: - Gym air conditioning or major HVAC work at Brighton High School, advocated by some board members as a high‑visibility priority. - Vestibule and lockout safety systems, seen by law‑enforcement advisors as critical but lacking firm cost estimates. - Transportation parking lot repairs and items that had been partially completed or repurposed from previous bond plans.
A number of board members requested more granular cost information before committing funds. One member urged the facilities committee to reconvene and produce a prioritized plan tied to detailed cost estimates; another asked administration to prepare a proposed 2027 budget that would show a $1.5 million excess (reserve) to indicate where capital investments could come from without eroding operating stability.
Next steps: administration agreed to return to the facilities and finance committees with cost estimates (including the chiller installation bids when available) and with options that show the tradeoffs of preserving larger reserves versus spending on prioritized projects. The board did not vote on allocations at the workshop.
