Voters will decide on December 4

The Hilton Board of Education unanimously approved a $58 million capital project at its October 9 meeting. The issue will go before the public for approval on December 4.

"It’s the right plan for the right time at the right dollars," said Superintendent Dr. John Cooper. "Certainly if we had to wait another year, the cost would be higher and the state aid could be less."

When the district began formulating the capital project more than a year ago, the original plan estimate came in at $84.5 million. "It didn’t take a lot of thought to figure that wasn’t appropriate," said Assistant Superintendent for Business Steve Ayers.

So the district’s ad hoc committee and consultants went back to the drawing board and came up with a plan that was much closer to the county average - $50 million for major school renovation projects.

The result is a plan that addresses safety and security concerns as well as instructional program needs, according to Cooper.

One of the major thrusts at each of the five school buildings is to change the traffic pattern to separate into distinct areas three activities: bus discharge, parking and student drop-off. The proposed plans accomplish that. The plan also increases parking, particularly at the high school where parking will be increased by 50 percent.

In addition, security at each of the buildings will be increased with kiosks and video cameras at main entrances.

Additions to elementary buildings will allow the district to start a universal preschool program and expand the current half-day kindergarten program to full-day. Gymnasiums and cafeterias will be upgraded; the pool at Merton Williams replaced. Technology infrastructure will also be improved.

Using the current state aid for buildings formula, the state would pick up $42 million of the Hilton project. Administrators would like to take advantage of that aid package before it’s changed, which Ayers predicts could happen as early as next June.

With local taxpayers picking up the remaining share, $15.8 million, the district has estimated the following impact on taxes: for a $100,000 home receiving Basic STAR, the capital project would cost $56 per year for four years, then drop to $34. For those taxpayers who receive the Senior STAR relief, a home assessed at $100,000 would pay $40 per year for the first four years, then $25 thereafter. Business and commercial properties with no STAR package and a $100,000 assessment would pay $80 per year for the first four years, then $49 per year.

Adding space would also mean additional operating costs. Seven kindergarten teachers would be hired to expand to a full-day program. About six custodians would be added. Those costs, and increased utility expenses, will cost taxpayers with a $100,000 home and Basic STAR $31 per year; those with a $100,000 home and Senior STAR would pay $22 per year; and $100,000 commercial properties would pay $45 extra per year.

Ayers said when calculating the cost to taxpayers, conservative interest rates were used. Current economic conditions may mean that the cost of borrowing is less than has been calculated.

If approved by voters in December, Cooper said architects will finish plans and have them submitted to the State Education Department by June. Bidding of the job could take place in March 2003 and construction the next month. The district would like substantial completion of the project by September 2004. Full-day kindergarten and the pre-school program would begin at that time.

The district will host several informational programs, both at school buildings and in the community, before the vote. A video presentation of the capital project will be aired on Cable Channel 12 on October 24, November 28 and December 3 at 7 p.m.