District Superintendent Brian Timm reviewed plans for the district’s proposed $12.9 million capital project at the Pine Plains School Board meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 7, in anticipation of the upcoming public referendum. Most of the funds — $9.1 million — will come from the district’s capital reserve; the remaining $3.8 million will be financed through a municipal bond. “I want to reiterate that this will have no tax impact on the community,” Timm said.
The district’s plans include renovations of the Stissing Mountain High School roof, elevator, tennis court, track, gym floor, and bleachers. The proposal also calls for a new concession stand with indoor bathrooms between the football stadium and the baseball fields, and an upgrade of the high school’s courtyard. “We’ll have a table at the Ag Fair on Saturday [Oct. 11] with our capital project display board,” Timm said. “People will have a chance to walk around the high school grounds and look at what all needs to be fixed. We’ll be there to answer any questions.”
The referendum to approve the $12.9 million capital project is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the high school cafeteria. For those not already registered to vote, the deadline is Friday, Oct. 10. District Clerk Julia Tomaine is available to help with registration from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at her office in the high school.
In other business, accountant Sean Bannen of RBT CPAs (with offices in the Hudson Valley), presented the results of the school district’s audit, giving it top marks for financial management, transparency, and accuracy.
The School Board authorized Timm to meet with the Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Pine Plains to discuss Hudson Company’s request for payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), a type of tax abatement. Hudson Company, which specializes in wood flooring, has proposed moving its operations to Pine Plains, at the intersection of Routes 82 and 83.
Under this arrangement, the Hudson Company would make payments at a reduced rate (with a phased-in increase over time) rather than pay standard property and school taxes. These financial incentives can attract businesses to communities: Currently, the school district has two other PILOT agreements, both with local solar farms.
“The Town Supervisor [Brian Walsh] is in favor of [approving a PILOT], because if this business leaves the area, people will lose their jobs,” Timm said. (Hudson Company founder Jamie Hudson told the Pine Plains Planning Board at its June meeting that there are currently 35 employees.) “Right now the proposal is only in draft form,” Timm added. “We’ll need the school attorney to get involved once there’s a formal agreement so the needs of the school are balanced with keeping businesses in our area.”
Before ending the meeting by breaking into executive session, School Board President Amie Fredericks offered the handful of attendees a chance to voice any opinions or concerns during the public comment section of the meeting. She cautioned that there was a three-minute time limit; that the board would listen but not respond; and that remarks on personnel and students were out of bounds. No one chose to speak.
In the past voters were able to vote for school budgets at multiple polling places . Around 20 years ago it was consolidated to one location , the high school .
This single location effectively disenfranchised voters and has made it much easier for
budgets and expenditures to pass . The vote for this BIG BUCK expenditure proposition
should be postponed until local voting has been restored .
Does anyone really think we really need a new concession stand with bathrooms ? This idea ranks alongside that $80,000 Time Square like sign .
The Superintendent and Board should not let this $9,000,000 capital reserve burn a hole in the taxpayers pocket .