Learn about what a bond is, how we can use bond funds, and what a bond referendum entails. Some FAQs are included as well.
Scope of Work
See what work will be performed at each school location, broken down by Proposals, and learn more about the new CTE Center that is planned.
Taxpayer Information
We understand the concerns of our local community and have worked hard to create a minimal tax outcome.
Planning & Timeline
Preliminary work began on the bond back in Spring of 2016. See all the steps we have taken over the last couple of years.
News & FAQ
January 2021 Update
Please check back to this site on Friday, January 15, 2021, we will have additional information about all the work that has been done and is currently underway.
January 2020 Update
Last week, every teacher who teaches a Career and Technical Education (CTE) course or program met with a design team to discuss student space, equipment, instructional needs, and suggestions for the future spaces. In an effort to create the most effective learning environments, discussions and suggestions focused on current expertise teaching technical and professional CTE classes at NFA and, both, current and future industry standards for each of the professional areas. The ultimate goal is to continue to prepare our scholars to be college and career ready beyond Academy Field. The individual, research design meetings included teachers for each program, our Capital Projects Administrator, Mr. Roger Ramjug, representatives from Clark Patterson Lee - the designated architect for the project, and Mr. John Etri, Director of Career and Technical Education.
Something to note - the Newburgh Enlarged City School District is one of the only schools in the state that hosts Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs within our high school buildings. This allows easy access and exposure of classes and programs to all scholars without disruption of their school day, maximizing each student's instructional time, eliminating additional hours in transportation, and limiting stigmatization. Many of our graduates walk across Academy Field with professional certificates that allow them to begin working in their chosen field immediately or upon their 18th birthday.
The images within the powerpoint from Tuesday night's BOE meeting, is a conceptual rendering thus far. They have not been officially proposed, voted on, or approved by our Board of Education.
As projects continue to progress, the next buildings in the process will be Heritage Middle School, Vails Gate STEAM Academy, and New Windsor Elementary School. The process begins with an Educational Planning Team at each building that consists of teachers, administrators, and staff of that individual building, as well as district administrators and the architects for the project.
The Capital Bond project was approved by voters on May 18, 2019. Our fiscal advisors have advised that if the propositions are approved there will be no tax impact for eight (8) years. The project is expected to be completed in full before the need to use taxes to repay construction costs. The estimated monthly cost was calculated for each $100,000 of a property's Full Value. The average monthly cost of proposition 4 (new construction and renovations) is estimated to be $0.98 and $0.84 for proposition 5 (Air quality, environmental system/air conditioning) for a total of an estimated cost of $1.82 per month for each $100,000 of a property's Full Value. These payments are estimated to begin in 2027. These estimates do not reflect STAR or Veteran exemptions.
In addition to the facility upgrades incorporated in the Capital Bond project, NECSD is more than halfway to completion of our Energy Performance Contract Work. This is a separate project from the Capital Bond work, but has similar elements of building upgrades. In total, there will be zero taxpayer impact with 1.3 million in annual guaranteed energy savings as well as a 60% reduction in greenhouse gases and a 60% reduction in energy costs.
Work that has or will be completed includes updates or complete replacements of: energy management systems, LED retrofitted/converted lighting throughout our buildings, solar panels on nine buildings, automatic power-down for all computers, heating system upgrades, insulation replacement and installation of pipes and attic spaces, window film, and water conservation fittings.
By the end of the Energy Performance project, energy savings for 1 year will be equal to:
The CO2 that would be absorbed by 2,509 acres of trees
C02 emission from 19,410 barrels of oil
C02 emission from 1,803 passenger cars off the road
C02 emission from 1,067 average powered homes
November 2019 Update
NFA Main Campus Swimming Pool
Plans to NYSED by December 31, 2019.
Plans Research and Development Completed
Plans and Specifications – 2nd Stage / 3rd Stage / Construction Documents Pending
New Career and Technical Education Facility
Initial CTE Research and Development Interviews Conducted
Initial instructional space assessment completed
Initial floor plan and building layout pending review
Next Up, Plans, Research and Development for:
Heritage Middle School – Cafeteria Addition and renovations/ Air conditioning
Vails Gate – Modular Removal; New addition and renovations/ Air conditioning
New Windsor – Tower classroom facility demolition; addition and renovations/ Air conditioning
October 2019 Update
Research and Plan Development has begun for the NFA Main Campus Swimming Pool, the New Career and Technical Education Facility and Heritage Middle School, New Windsor Elementary, and Vails Gate Elementary.
A Bond is a long term loan that allows school districts to fund capital projects. This would include the acquisition of property, renovations and additions to existing structures, construction of new facilities and the purchase of equipment. Bond approval is done by a referendum (public vote) that includes the scope of the project, maximum dollar amount that can be spent and all funding sources including the maximum amount that can be bonded. A bond is similar to a home mortgage. It is a contract to repay borrowed money with interest over time. Bonds are sold by a school district to competing lenders to raise funds to pay for the costs of construction, renovations and equipment.
Bond funds can be used to pay for new buildings, additions and renovations to existing facilities, land acquisition, technology infrastructure and equipment for new or existing buildings. Bonds cannot be used for salaries or operating costs such as utility bills, supplies, building maintenance, fuel and insurance.
School districts are required by state law to ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors in order to raise the capital dollars required for projects such as renovation to existing buildings or building a new school. Essentially, the voters are giving permission for the District to take out a loan and pay that loan back over an extended period of time, much like a family takes out a mortgage loan for their home. A school board calls a bond referendum so voters can decide whether or not they want to pay for proposed facility projects.
The Newburgh School District is one of the larger school districts in NY State encompassing the Town of Newburgh, City of Newburgh and the Town of New Windsor. There are approximately 11,500 students in fourteen different school buildings. When you break the construction budget down by student- it is one of the lowest cost per school as compared to other city school district capital projects. A comparison graphic is available below:
Our architects have advised that across the district our mechanical heating and ventilation systems have exhausted their useful economic life and are due for removal and replacement. In addition, most of our schools provide air conditioning using hundreds of window air conditioning units which are moderately effective and highly inefficient. New centralized systems will not only provide adequate ventilation to classrooms and common areas, these systems will operate much more efficiently than our current units. According to studies provided by our architectural firm, the improved ventilation will contribute to better learning environments and better student attendance. We anticipate that the state aid on these new systems will be substantial (estimated at 77%). In addition, we expect that the investment in central air conditioning will be paid for through energy efficiency and economic savings in the long term.
The primary reason the District is able to have no tax impact over the next eight years is the significant reduction in debt service from outstanding bonds. The new debt service will be layered in and will replace the current debt service.
Voting locations are determined by where a person is registered to vote. Polling locations can be found by clicking this link. Visit vote.newburghSchools.org to find out more information about registration status, instructions for registering to vote in the school board election/budget vote, and polling place.
The true value of your home can be determined by dividing the assessed value by the equalization rate for your municipality. For details please contact the Assessor's Office in your municipality.
City of Newburgh: (845) 569-7333
Town of Newburgh: (845) 564-4550
New Windsor: (845) 563-4632
Cornwall: (845) 534 7290
Proposition 1 –School District Budget Proposition 2 – Newburgh Free Library Budget Proposition 3 – Transportation limits for students Proposition 4 – Capital Project: improvements to the physical structure of all school buildings,
renovating educational spaces, demolishing and reconstructing a section of a 119 year old building, construction of a new building to expand Career and Technical Education opportunities for all of our high school scholars, and more Proposition 5 – Capital Project: air quality and environmental systems/air conditioning in all of our school buildings
The election of school board members will also be on the ballot.
When Proposition 4 and 5 are combined, the total will be above the bonding capacity for the district, therefore, a “super majority” vote or 60% of the voters must approve Proposition 5.
If the Capital Bond propositions are approved, there will be a planning period of approximately 18 – 24 months. The planning period will consist of collecting feedback from teachers, administrators, and key stakeholders about the specific needs for each space that will be impacted by the work being proposed. Those groups will narrow the programming needs as it relates to their individual buildings. Once a more specific plan is developed and approved by the New York State Education Department, the project can be bid and construction can begin.
The responsibility for upgrading school district facilities is shared between the local community and the New York State Department of Education. The Newburgh School District qualifies for a high level of state aid on building projects.
Our fiscal advisors have advised that if the propositions are approved there will be no tax impact for eight (8) years. The project is expected to be completed in full before the need to use taxes to repay construction costs.
Estimated Average Monthly Tax for Proposition 4 New Construction and Renovations
$0.98 Per Month
Average monthly tax impact for each $100,000 of a property's Full Value. This estimate does not reflect STAR or Veteran exemptions.
Estimated Average Monthly Tax for Proposition 5 Air Quality, Environmental System/Air Conditioning
$0.84 Per Month
Average monthly tax impact for each $100,000 of a property's Full Value. This estimate does not reflect STAR or Veteran exemptions.
Full Fiscal Details
Proposition 4 New Construction and Renovations
Project Cost:
$198 Million
Reduction for Building Aid (anticipated)
-$128 Million
Reduction for Capital Reserve Funds
-$10 Million
Local Cost to Tax Payers
$60 Million
What does this all mean? $195 million dollars worth of work will be completed with a new cost of only $60 million to local taxpayers.
Proposition 5 Air Quality, Environmental System /Air Conditioning
Project Cost:
$59 Million
Reduction for Building Aid (anticipated)
-$45 Million
Reduction for Capital Reserve Funds
-$0 Million
Local Cost to Tax Payers
$14 Million
What does this all mean? $59 million dollars worth of work will be completed with a new cost of only $14 million to local taxpayers. There is also a significant energy savings payback from replacing inefficient equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions Is Full Value the same as Market Value? No, the full value is the value assigned by your municipality and market value is the price your house is worth on the open market. In many cases, these numbers will be similar but not exact.
Why are you using Full Value and not Assessed Value? Since the district consists of differing municipalities with vastly different calculations to get assessed value, it would have been diffucult to display a single cost for taxpayers. By using full value it is easier to communicate the actual cost to taxpayers of all three municipalities.
Planning and Timeline
Scroll to the right for more >
April/May 2016
Clark Patterson Lee selected for Project research and Pre-Referendum Services.
June 2016
Architects begin work on master plan.
November 2016
Establishment of the Project Facilities Steering Committee and the Project Team.
November 2016
Preliminary facilities committee formation
May – June 2017
Establishment of the Education Planning Committee (Teachers, Administration and Staff)
May – June 2017
Research and Analysis of Education Programming w/ Architects
June 2017
Preliminary Planning meeting with NYSED
June 2017
Construction Manager and Capital Market Financial Advisors join the Facilities Steering Committee and Project Team
June - July 2017
Initial series of draft plan presentations to the Board of Education soliciting input and feedback.
Aug.-Sept. 2017
Initial Series of Community forums to solicit public input and sentiment
September 2017
Preliminary project scope and plans presented to teachers, administrators and support staff. Input and feedback solicited through surveys
Sept.-Oct. 2017
Student focus groups provide feedback and input via student surveys.
November 2017
Initial Board of Education presentation illustrating research findings and projected scope of work. Board of Education members submit feedback.
December 2017
Based on collective feedback, collaboration, and deliberation from all stakeholder groups the initial conceptual plans are developed.
Jan. 2018–Feb. 2018
Conceptual plans and designated scopes of work costed out in preparation of the complete construction budget.
Feb. 2018 – Mar. 2018
State Capital Aid applied to the construction budget and local tax share calculated.
Winter 2018
Project Team visits leaders at NYSED Office of Facilities Planning to begin discussions of ways and means to reduce the local tax share further.
April 2018- August 2018
The Committee, Architect, Construction Manager and the Capital Financial Advisor conducts a series of workshops to reduce the local tax share.
August 2018
The Office of Facilities Planning allocates additional Capital Aid for construction of the new Career and Technical Education Center.
September 2018
After approximately twenty project renderings, construction budgets and tax impact calculations the Facilities Steering Committee recommends the final plan to the Board of Education consisting of two individual Bond propositions.
September 2018
Upon presentation, the Board of Education indicates approval of the Final Plan by consensus
October 2018
The Board of Education is presented with a communication timeline as well as the introduction to the mandated State Quality Environmental Review Process (SEQRA).
October 2018
The District prepares and submits preliminary documentation requesting additional Capital Aid for New Windsor Elementary School.
November 2018
Data collection in support of the SEQRA process begins.
December 2018
Initial data collection indicates a “negative declaration” of adverse environmental impact tentatively resulting in a shortened SEQRA process.
December 2018
Communication to internal; stakeholder groups surrounding the details and process of the Capital Project begins.
December 2018
Communication and Documentation preparation and submission continues with NYSED Office of Facilities Planning in lieu of additional Capital Aid for New Windsor Elementary School.
March 2019
Board approves resolution to put referendums on the May 21, 2019 ballot.
The Vote
May 21, 2019.
This will be during the annual School Budget/Board Election Vote. Polls are open from Noon until 9:00 p.m.
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Local Cost to Tax Payers
