Capital Improvement Project

The distinction lies in the governance and debt-authorization model. Local projects are authorized via public voter referendum. However, because a BOCES cannot carry debt independently, this project relies on an Inter-Municipal Agreement (IMA). The project is authorized through the collective, unanimous resolution of the boards of education from all 27 component districts.

The proposal addresses a critical backlog of deferred maintenance. Our data indicates that only two large-scale capital projects have been executed in the last 20 years. This historical under-investment has resulted in a critical accumulation of infrastructure risks. A comprehensive Building Condition Survey (BCS) — the regulatory driver for this proposal — identified $142 million in total needs across 16 buildings and 4 campuses. Delaying action now increases the risk of system failures that we cannot legally address as “emergencies.”

Costs are distributed via the 2025-26 Resident Weighted Average Daily Attendance (RWADA) methodology. A district’s “Gross Share” is a percentage of the total project cost based on its student population relative to the total BOCES region.

Yes. Because the $49.5M scope fits within the Maximum Cost Allowance (MCA), it is 100% aidable. BOCES facilities aid is received the same year the payment is made.

Districts have three strategic pathways to choose how they’d like to manage this investment:

Option 1: Cash Payment. Direct payment based on the cash flow schedule, which avoids all interest costs.

Option 2: Five-Year BAN Payoff. Short-term borrowing via Bond Anticipatory Notes (BANs) to provide short-term budget flexibility.

Option 3: Long-Term Financing. Long-term debt service intended to spread the cost over several years to manage long-term budget impact.

Local share is determined by the RWADA Aid Ratio.

Gross Share: The total dollar amount assigned to a district.

Local Share: The net cost after the RWADA Aid Ratio is applied.

To authorize the project, local Boards must execute the following checklist:

• Review and Approval of SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act) documentation.
• Formal Resolution to Adopt the IMA (Inter-Municipal Agreement) followed by a Bond Resolution.

There is a critical governance window for these approvals. All component Boards of Education must take formal action to adopt the IMA between April 16, 2026, and July 1, 2026.

The $49.5M scope focuses on critical infrastructure:

• Building Shell ($22M): Includes roof replacements at 12 buildings where systems are currently out-of-warranty and showing clear signs of deterioration.
• Mechanical & Infrastructure ($12M): Replacement of outdated boilers and HVAC units that have become difficult to service. This includes mandated ventilation upgrades in specific high-use areas.
• Safety/Site ($6M): Critical restoration of parking lots, pavement, and sidewalks to maintain safe egress and access.
• Plumbing ($500k): High-priority fixture and supply updates.

Following the IMA adoption in 2026, the project enters the Design and NYSED (New York State Education Department) Review phases throughout 2027. Actual physical construction will begin following these regulatory approvals.

This is a long-term implementation window extending through 2032. Work will be staggered across the four campuses — Hewes, Ormsby, Carrier, and LoGuidice—and will include District Wide IT (DWIT) upgrades.

The prioritization process was highly disciplined, deferring $91 million in identified needs to protect the regional budget:

• $64M in “SHOULD” Items: This includes $20M for windows, masonry, and foundations; $5.5M for secondary mechanical/plumbing; $3.5M for sidewalks; $6M for lockers/doors/stairs; and $33M for additional program space renovations.
• $27M in Maintenance Items: Routine electrical, IT, plumbing, and interior items that will be addressed through the annual general fund rather than capital financing.