Appoquinimink to pay more up-front to build new schools
As a result of the state's recent budget crunch, Appoquinimink School District will initially spend more of its local share than expected on a series of construction projects recently approved by voters.
Chuck Longfellow, finance director for the district, said the change will have no impact on taxpayers or district operations.
What it will do is allow the district to stick to its construction schedule.
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In a recent bond bill, the state set aside $17.8 million for the project, which wouldn't have been enough for the district to continue construction of a new elementary, middle and high school, and have them done by 2020-21.
The state is supposed to pay 75 percent of the project each year, while the district pays 25 percent. Instead, in 2018, Appoquinimink will pay more than $26.8 million, or about 60 percent.
In exchange, the state is expected to foot more of the bill later on, bringing the final split back to 75/25, Longfellow said.
"Over time, it all balances out," he said.
To pay the local share, the state will issue bonds on behalf of the district. The total amount is expected to stay below $67.1 million, the amount voters approved in December.
Whether the district will be able to stick to its construction schedule and maintain the split as intended depends on how much the General Assembly sets aside for the project in next year's bond bill.
Mike Jackson, director of the Office of Management and Budget said: "We've always fulfilled our commitment to make sure a project moves forward."
His office has also worked with school districts to pay more than their local share and keep projects on track before, he said. In the past, the practice has been used in situations similar to Appoquinimink's, where there wasn't enough state funding to proceed with a project on schedule.
Sen. David Sokola, D-
But he feels between the state's share and increased local share, the district will have plenty of money to move forward "aggressively" with construction.
There is also the possibility of the district getting more money before the next bond bill, he said. The state anticipates hiking taxes on real estate transfers, tobacco, and alcohol this year will give the state an extra $3.5 million to play with, which could possibly go to Appoquinimink in the form of a mini-bond bill in January, he said.
Contact Jessica Bies at (302) 324-2881 or jbies@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbies.
Construction timeline
2019-20:
- New elementary school completed
2020-21:
- New middle and high school completed
- Meredith Middle relocates to new high school
- Silver Lake Elementary relocates to new middle school
- Grade nine will begin at the high school
2021-22:
- Silver Lake returns home
- New middle school officially opens
- Grades 9-10 at high school
2022-23:
- Meredith middle school returns home
- Grades 9-11 at high school
2023-24:
- Grades 9-12 at high school
- First class graduates from new "Fairview Campus"