January 2, 2008 - On Monday, March 3, residents of the North Colonie Central School District and Maplewood-Colonie Common School District will go to the polls to decide on a proposed $7 million capital project referendum that would provide many infrastructure improvements throughout the district’s eight school buildings, plus Maplewood.

District officials have identified about 75 projects, many included in the district’s 5-year Capital Facilities Plan, including improvements to building security, technology and energy efficiency; the installation of new, more efficient heating and ventilation equipment; and the replacement of roofs that have exceeded their useful life. At Maplewood, the proposed work would improve the building’s accessibility for people with disabilities, including installing an elevator.
 

If approved, district residents can expect little or no tax rate increase as a result of the proposed project, thanks to the availability of state funding and current district reserves. The official annexation of Maplewood-Colonie Common School District on July 1, 2008, will provide North Colonie with an increase in traditional state building aid, from 48 to 68 percent for approved building projects.
 

In addition, EXCEL funding would pay for $1.8 million of the total project, covering the portion that is normally the local taxpayers’ share. EXCEL (Expanding Our Children’s Education and Learning) is a new form of state building aid to cover the cost of certain school repairs and improvements.
 

If approved by voters on March 3, the proposed renovations would be completed in 3 to 4 years. 
 

For more information, visit the EXCEL section of the district Web site, attend one of the public presentations to be held in January and early February (listed above), and read the capital project brochure and special edition newsletter to be mailed to all district residents later this winter.