B-G votes on school project today

BAINBRIDGE – Voters in the Bainbridge-Guilford School District will decide today whether or not to endorse a $4.3 million building project.

The polls open at noon today and close at 9 p.m. Citizens can vote for the capital project at their regular polling places – the Bainbridge Town Hall and Guilford Methodist Church.

“This work can be done more economically due to EXCEL (Expanding our Children’s Education and Learning) aid, which other local districts are also accessing. This opportunity to use additional EXCEL aid money in addition to building aid can minimize the local share of the cost,” said Superintendent Karl Brown.

The board and administration approved the $4.3 million project for routine maintenance and repair issues and also to address building safety designs for students and faculty. The school is also preparing to adequately shelter community members in an emergency situation.

“We’re planning a little bit for the future. This money might not always be available to us from the state,” said Brown.

B-G’s allocation from EXCEL is $300,591. “We could make improvements for just that amount, borrowing nothing. A better option is to use that amount to minimize the tax impact on a larger project that is supported additionally by building aid, another source of state support,” said Brown. The state reimbursement for regular building aid is about 90 percent. That leaves $844,444 out of the $4.3 million in the hands of local taxpayers.