Proposed Capital Improvement Project 2023
Public Vote on December 12, 2023 from 2-8 p.m.
in the High School Gym
Click here for the Capital Project newsletter
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about the Capital Project
Click here for the Reminder to Vote postcard
Stakeholders of Galway Central School District have been planning a capital project that will address facility needs that were not included in the 2016 Capital Project. Project elements are based on the Building Condition Survey that school districts are required by NYS to perform every five years, which include the following five priorities:
1. Safety, Security, and ADA Compliance
• A Secure Junior/Senior High School Entrance
The project will create a secure entrance at the Junior/Senior High School that mimics the Joseph Henry Elementary School entrance.
• Safer Deliveries
The dumpsters near the loading dock that are currently in the pathway between the Junior/Senior High School and the recreation area will be relocated.
• Safer Overflow Parking and Crossing
The parcels of land that residents authorized the district to purchase in May 2023 will be made into two new lots for overflow parking for school events. The district will work with NYS to provide additional crosswalks on Sacandaga Road.
• Improve Accessibility
The project will add a handicap-accessible ramp and walkway to the tennis courts and student parking. It will also provide a ramp and ADA access to the relocated trash dumpsters.
2. Educational Programming
• STEM Innovative Spaces
Currently our Junior/Senior High School technology classroom can only accommodate the design portion of the curriculum. The project will include an addition to the back of the existing classroom, which will provide space for students to design and build their ideas and solutions.
The Elementary building does not have a dedicated science space. The proposed project will transform an existing classroom into a STEM lab that will include interactive lab stations and robotics. This will allow for innovation, collaboration, and project-based cross-curricular learning opportunities.
• Business and Agriculture Suite
The Business classroom will be relocated next to the Agriculture room to allow for cross-curricular, real-life, business and agriculture activities. The space will include a greenhouse that will feature a storefront/farm stand that will be open to the community.
3. Aging Infrastructure
The project will replace boilers at the bus garage and elementary school that have reached the end of their useful lives. There are also several items that were included in past projects that have not been completed due to cost escalation:
• Bus Garage
• Reconstruct pavement
• Relocate and replace underground fuel tanks with aboveground tanks
• Replace oil/water separator
• Relocate and replace underground fuel tanks
• Restroom renovations
4. Health and Wellness
The proposed capital project will enhance health and wellness opportunities for students and the community by reconfiguring and expanding the High School gymnasium, locker room, and adjacent spaces.
The current gym, although regulation size, is too small. The current area between the boundary line of the basketball court and bleachers is only 15 inches, which results in most spectators’ feet touching the line. The proposed project will expand the gym to two full-size basketball/volleyball courts and give each locker room a Team Room.
The wrestling room will be relocated upstairs, and the current weight room will be re-imaged as a seminar room by day and community room by night.
A Fitness Room located in the front of the school will allow for easy community access.
The expanded gymnasium will also include an indoor walking track and a new concession counter.
5. Athletics
The proposed project will reconstruct the outdoor track, replace scoreboards for soccer and softball, and pave the parking lot near the track.
Residents Will Vote on Two Propositions
Residents will vote on the proposed project in two propositions.
Proposition #1 – $34.7 million
Will include items relating to priorities:
1. Safety, security, and ADA compliance
2. Educational programming
3. Aging infrastructure
4. Health and wellness
Proposition #2 – $3.3 million
Will include items relating to:
• Outdoor athletics
• Relocation of the wrestling room upstairs
• Restroom renovations
Financial Information
The district will finance the proposed 2023 Capital Project using capital reserve funds, NYS Aid, and local tax dollars.
• The district will use $1.71 million from the Capital Reserve Funds to offset the local share of the project
• NYS Aid - 78.7% of the cost of allowable expenditures will be paid to the district in subsequent years in the form of revenue in NYS Building Aid
• Local tax share 2026-2035
• Proposition #1 – Estimated average local share is $1,148,912/year
• Proposition #2 – Estimated average local share is $163,607/year
The project will be financed for 15 years. The first ten years of the average tax impact are projected above. It is difficult to provide an estimate beyond the ten years as the district has debt falling off and may have new debt added.
To estimate your tax impact, divide your Taxable Value by 1,000 then multiply by the rate for your municipality (see the table below).
How Do I Find the Taxable Value of My Home?
It is important to note that the Taxable Value of your home is different from a “Zestimate” that you might find on Zillow. It is also different from Full Market Value. It is typically lower.
To find the Taxable Value of your home, “search your tax” bill by using the Quick Link on the homepage of the Galway CSD website. In case the form doesn’t populate, the district code is 212.
Once you access your tax bill, look under the “Property Information” section. There you will see the Full Market Value, Assessed Value, and Taxable Value, which takes into consideration the equalization rate of the municipality in which you live.
Example of a school tax bill:
For assistance, please click the following link to a Google Spreadsheet that you can personalize with your Taxable Value and municipality: Tax Impact Estimator
In the example above, the tax impact for the home in Galway for Proposition 1 would be $22.65/month, and Proposition 2 would be $3.23/month.
Tax Impact
|
Municipality
|
Proposition #1 |
Proposition #2 |
| Rate per $1,000 taxable value |
Rate per $1,000 taxable value |
| Amsterdam |
$16.43 |
$2.34 |
| Broadalbin |
$2.07 |
$0.30 |
| Charlton |
$2.09 |
$0.30 |
| Galway |
$1.46 |
$0.21 |
| Glenville |
$1.75 |
$0.25 |
| Milton |
$1.72 |
$0.25 |
| Perth |
$3.19 |
$0.45 |
| Providence |
$1.70 |
$0.24 |
*These tax rates are for the proposed capital project only and do not include current taxes.
*These tax rates are estimates based on State Aid approval assumptions and current interest rates.
On the Ballot
PROPOSITION #1:
Shall the Board of Education of the Galway Central School District be authorized to: (1) construct additions to, reconstruct and improve School District buildings, facilities and sites, acquire original furnishings, equipment, machinery or apparatus required for the purpose for which such buildings, facilities and sites are to be used and pay costs incidental thereto, at a maximum aggregate cost of $34,734,934; (2) expend such sum for such purpose, including the expenditure of $1,710,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund; (3) levy the necessary tax therefore, taking into account State aid and the amount to be expended from the Capital Reserve Fund, to be levied and collected in annual installments in such years and in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Education; and (4) in anticipation of the collection of such tax, issue bonds and notes of the District at one time or from time to time in the principal amount not to exceed $33,024,934, and levy a tax to pay the interest on said obligations when due?
PROPOSITION #2:
If proposition #1 is approved by the voters, shall the Board of Education of the Galway Central School District be authorized to: (1) reconstruct and improve School District buildings, facilities and sites, acquire original furnishings, equipment, machinery or apparatus required for the purpose for which such buildings, facilities and sites are to be used and pay costs incidental thereto, at a maximum aggregate cost of $3,303,480; (2) expend such sum for such purpose; (3) levy the necessary tax therefore, taking into account State aid, to be levied and collected in annual installments in such years and in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Education; and (4) in anticipation of the collection of such tax, issue bonds and notes of the District at one time or from time to time in the principal amount not to exceed $3,303,480, and levy a tax to pay the interest on said obligations when due?
Public Information Meetings
Residents are invited to learn more about the proposed Capital Improvement Project at the following public presentations:
• Monday, October 16, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium
• Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 6 p.m. in the Auditorium
• Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in the High School Library
• Monday, December 11, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in the High School Library