Mineola School Voters Approve Reserve Spending Plan

Voters in the Mineola School District approved a proposed $3.8 million spending plan for capital projects Tuesday night, though not many residents showed up at the polls.

“Voter turnout was low, it was atypical for what we normally have, but I think people may not have voted because they supported it and feel they didn’t need to come out,” Mineola School Superintendent Dr. Michael Nagler said holding the results in his hands at the Jackson Avenue School.

There were two propositions on the ballot; the first one to approve the $3.8 million in expenditures which included brickwork, new windows, boilers at the Mineola High School, installation of air conditioning at Hampton Street and Jackson Avenue Schools, among other improvements. The second proposition was to approve an increase in the amount the district could place into the reserve to $15 million.

The first vote passed 363-112, for a total of 475, while the second initiative was also upheld 295-169, in which 469 votes were cast.

“As far as I’m concerned, this is what everybody asked for,” Mineola Board of Education President Artie Barnett said. “Take care of your buildings and not create debt.”

The district intends to file plans with the state education department by Jan. 1, 2014 and then await approval. There is currently a six-month approval time due to backlog.

“Hopefully it’s less than six months and a minimum of a month to bid and award,” Dr. Nagler said. “Typically windows have a lead time of 10 to 12 weeks, that’s why we held this in November, trying to expedite the process as soon as possible.”

The superintendent added that masonry work would probably start in summer 2014.

Regarding the reserve fund, the district would have until 2019 to fill the remaining $11.2 million after spending the current $3.8 million. Every reserve fund has a dollar cap and a time limit on when money can be placed into the fund, however there is no time limit on when the money can be withdrawn.

The original fund had a limit of 10 years in which to be funded, but the district created the reserve in 2011 and left it unfunded until June 2013. Districts are not allowed to fund a reserve and spend that money in the same school year.

“We’re hopeful that from now until 2019 we have enough surplus to fund it,” Dr. Nagler said. “Poposition two is all about future planning, it really has nothing to do with now. We’re going to have our hands full with these projects coming up but it gives us the ability to plan and if we can save for capital work, we will.”

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