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Waterbury superintendent outlines funding pathway for Bucks Hill preschool, cites state bonus and reimbursement cap
Summary
Superintendent Darren Swartz told the boards the district will seek bonding to build a new Bucks Hill preschool and that state reimbursement typically covers about 79% of project costs, with an additional early-childhood bonus referenced in the transcript and an apparent statutory cap the district said may limit total reimbursement to about 95%.
Superintendent Darren Swartz told the joint meeting that the district plans to seek a bonding appropriation to build a new Bucks Hill preschool and emphasized the project’s financing opportunities and limits.
“We’re just in step number 1 right here,” Swartz said, introducing the plan and the funding context. He said Waterbury historically receives about 79% reimbursement on capital projects that meet state criteria and that the state recently added an early-childhood bonus referenced in the transcript as “public act 25 1 7 4” that could add an extra 15% for eligible early-childhood projects. Swartz also said recent legislation appears to cap total reimbursement at about 95%.
The superintendent described these reimbursement figures as the financial rationale for advancing a formal application and seeking bonding. He cautioned that the district will not receive more than the statewide cap and that the state will not pay the full cost of construction. The transcript citation for the bonus uses the phrasing "public act 25 1 7 4"; the district did not read a formal citation into the record at the meeting.
Swartz said the board will complete required educational specifications and submit the application to qualify for state reimbursement and possible bonuses. He asked the boards to consider a bonding appropriation that would allow the district to move from repairing portables to building a permanent preschool facility.
The board did not take a formal vote on the application at this meeting; Swartz presented the funding framework and answered questions from members about next steps and timing.
