$13M renovation proposal OK'd

As one debt retires, board asks voters to take on new project, By Tom Hoffman WANTAGE — A $13 million renovation project for High Point Regional High School is now in the hands of district taxpayers. On Dec. 21, the school district’s Board of Education voted to put the project up for a vote. Residents of the five towns in the school district will be asked to approve a referendum for an extensive list of facilities upgrades. The five towns in the school district are: Branchville, Frankford, Lafayette, Sussex Borough and Wantage. School board members who approved the vote at Monday’s meeting were Scott Mearkle, Chuck Musilli, Walter Stumpf Jr., Joseph Hoffmann, Joseph Luna, Garrett Link and Ed Vander Berg. Board members Thomas Case and Harold Rowan III were absent. The meeting was attended by just a handful of residents. At Monday’s meeting, Musilli outlined the project plans and the rationale for replacing nearly $12 million in debt that’s slated to be retired on June 30, 2010 with roughly $13 million in new debt. The state of New Jersey has committed to covering 33.0173 percent of the debt service, or $4.31 million, including principal and interest, said Musilli. District taxpayers would be responsible for 66.98 percent of the project costs, or $8.75 million. The bonds would likely be financed over 25 years at an estimated rate of 4.35 percent or $574,448 annually. Due to the state aid and low interest rates available for the bonds, the new debt would cost Lafayette taxpayers $4.42 less based on the average assessed value of homes there. Branchville taxpayers would see a $4.28 reduction, while homeowners in Frankford, Wantage and Sussex would see reductions of $3.93, $3.92 and $2.24, respectively. Overall, taxpayers would see about a 6 percent decrease to their annual debt service payments, said Musilli. Renovations The project would include renovations to the school’s eight science labs new windows and exterior doors to replace those that were installed with the original building structure in 1966 a new roof on the 400 wing upgrades to the school’s HVAC system. Athletics facilities improvements Upgrades for the outdoor athletic facilities to the tune of $2.28 million would include converting the existing football field to a multi-sport synthetic turf surface that could be used to host an estimated 30 to 40 athletic events each year, such as boys and girls soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and youth club sports, said Musilli. The current football field hosts just five or six games each year, he added. Few complaints The project proposal drew complaints from just one attendee, Wantage resident Bill Gettler. He doubted that the state could provide more than $4 million in funding in light of the current economy. Gettler also questioned the judgment of adding debt service at a time when many residents are struggling to pay their bills, cover their medical expenses and “put food on the table,” he said. “The only acceptable figure is zero.” High Point Superintendent Dr. John W. Hannum countered that “this is an opportunity to upgrade the facility where the current debt service is going away and we don’t have to raise rates for taxpayers.” Musilli added that district taxpayers would benefit from locking into low bond rates now since interest rates are likely to tick up over the next two years. Plus, the district should also be able to wrest competitive work rates from contractors, said Musilli.

In 10 or 15 years we’re going to look back on this and regret it if we don’t do it.” Chuck Musilli High Point School Board member