CLAREMONT — Voters head to the polls today to decide on more than $35 million in expenditures related to the Claremont School District. Here is a breakdown of the articles they will see.
Article 2: Main Budget $ 34,920,410
The Fiscal Year 2019 main budget is $22,000 less than the Fiscal Year 2018 main budget.
Approving Article 2 will decrease the tax rate three cents per $1,000
Article 3: Security Upgrades $141,000
The total cost of this safety and security upgrade will be $702,475. However, with the approval of Article 3, the Claremont School District will receive an 80 percent reimbursement from the state, or $561,475, for the following safety and security upgrades:
Safety and Security Upgrades for Claremont School District Schools
1. Surveillance cameras to monitor the interior and exterior of our schools. This includes all hallways and common areas inside the school, as well as parking lots, blind spots, avenues of approach to the building, areas where parents drop off students, entry ways, and the bus drop-off locations.
2. Electronic access control system that uses an identification card for staff to gain entrance into the school.
3. Security shades on classroom windows and doors in building where currently not installed.
Approving Article 3 will have no impact on the tax rate
Article 4: School Bus Replacement $39,000
The Claremont School District busses need continuous maintenance. The district currently spends on average $19,000 per year for maintenance on its oldest two busses. With the approval of Article 4, the school board will enter into a long-term lease/purchase agreement for $190,100, payable over a five-year term, in order to replace these older busses.
Approving Article 4 will increase the tax rate six cents per $1,000
Article 5: Roof Repairs — Claremont
Middle School $100,000
Article 5 is to replace a portion of the middle school roof.
Approving Article 5 will have no impact on the tax rate
Source: Middleton K. McGoodwin, superintendent of schools
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.