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MONTROSE, N.Y. Many taxpayers of the Hendrick Hudson school district were vocally opposed Wednesday during the school districts public hearing for a $25.1 million bond referendum that will go up for public vote next week. Some, however, were supportive of the board of educations assertion that right now is the time to finance the bond for capital improvements.
If the bond is passed, $11.2 million will fund a stand-alone performing arts center next door to Hendrick Hudson High School. The bond would also pay for upgrades in the districts athletic fields, science facilities and some infrastructure repairs.
The board president, Marion Walsh, began by telling the group of roughly three dozen, We will be limiting it to approximately 15 minutes total, and speakers would have three minutes to speak. The announcement was met with gasps and murmurs. The board relented that the audience could have a half an hour, when a shout came from the audience demanding that the board should let each taxpayer speak.
The public hearing was the first meeting held after a mailing of Soundings, the districts newsletter, was sent to taxpayers within the school district. Soundings was eliminated in June to cut costs and most news has since been posted on the districts website.
At least one Furnace Dock Road resident, Doug Watts, said he was completely unaware of the referendum and that the newsletter hit me like a two-by-four when I opened my mailbox.
You need not spend $11 million to build a performing arts center in order to make a statement about academic excellence, said Robert Tinari, author of a nine-page letter sent to district officials, outlining his opposition.
Many of the speakers opposed the earmarking of $10.3 million, to offset the cost of the bond, from a $12.5 million PILOT agreement with the RESCO Wheelabrator facility in Peekskill. District resident John DeBenedictus said, You have a couple of years to give us some tax relief, adding that the bond was the wrong bond at the wrong time. Others said the bond mixed wants with needs.
Board members and officials were clearly shaken by the plethora of angry opposition speakers, some coming close to tears with voices shaking.
Im deeply saddened by the animosity Im hearing toward this bond, said Amy Jaeger, a proponent of the bond. Current economic times have afforded us competitive rates. She added, Its going to upgrade our area tremendously.
Were going to share this, said school board trustee Mary-Pat Briggi. Were going to pay for the taxes too, she said about fellow board members.The bond vote will take place at the Frank G. Lindsey Elementary School, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Dec. 14. Absentee ballots are available at the districts main office on Trolley Road in Montrose.
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