B-B capital project rejected by voters

B-B capital project rejected by voters

For the second time in five months, residents in the Byron-Bergen Central School District have voted down a $29.5 million capital project.

In what District Superintendent Gregory Geer, Ph.D. described as "a heavy turnout," residents rejected the proposal by a vote of 965-774. The 2007 Improvements Project was first defeated on June 6 by 115 votes. The proposal was cut-back and put up for a second vote on October 16.

Geer said the district will now work to evaluate the situation before deciding what to do next. "The Board of Education will study exit polls and talk to district residents to come up with a plan for where we go from here. My sense is that people should keep their eyes opened and stay tuned. Something has got to happen." By law there is a waiting period of 45 days after the vote before the district can take any action, Geer explained.

The heavy turnout was impressive, Geer said. "It's good that a lot of people are participating in the process and hopefully are making an informed decision."

The project included repair and maintenance of existing buildings as well as construction of a new gymnasium, new space for music programs, converting the current high school gym into libraries and creating a centralized location for administration and guidance offices.

For the second vote, the Board of Education had removed a Proposition #2 that called for the construction of access roads.

According to the district, the removal of Proposition #2 reduced the local tax share by over one-half. The project would have increased school taxes $.32 per $1,000 assessed value for those without STAR exemptions, according to district figures.