Fallsburg Voters Approve $56.55 Million Capital Project With No Tax Increase

Voters in the Fallsburg Central School District gave strong approval to a $56.55 million capital improvement plan on Feb. 3, clearing the way for districtwide upgrades without raising local taxes.

Both measures on the ballot passed comfortably. Proposition No. 1 was approved by a 95–17 margin, while Proposition No. 2 carried with 92 yes votes to 19 no.

Superintendent Dr. Ivan Katz said the outcome reflected months of outreach and discussion with residents.

“I’m extremely proud of our school community and thankful for the trust they placed in this process,” Katz said. “The conversations I’ve had showed just how invested people are in the future of our schools, and I’m grateful for that support.”

The first proposition authorizes a broad package of renovations across all district buildings. Planned work includes addressing aging infrastructure, rebuilding deteriorated parking lots, installing air conditioning in every school, upgrading safety systems, and modernizing classrooms and other learning spaces.

The second proposition allows the district to purchase land adjacent to Benjamin Cosor Elementary School. District officials say the additional property is needed to widen the school’s only entrance and exit, a long-standing concern when it comes to daily traffic and emergency access.

Katz emphasized that the financing plan for both measures avoids any increase to school taxes. Funding will come from a mix of New York State building aid, money already set aside in the district’s capital reserve, and debt from earlier projects that is now expiring.

The scope of the work was shaped by the district’s most recent Building Conditions Survey, completed in 2023 as part of a state-mandated review conducted every five years. That survey highlighted numerous needs, including safety issues and mechanical systems nearing the end of their useful life.

Among the most urgent items were the parking lots at the Junior–Senior High School and the elementary school. Years of patching cracks and potholes are no longer sufficient, Katz said, and the project will allow for full reconstruction and widening to improve traffic flow and event parking.

A major component of the plan is a districtwide overhaul of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Once completed, all school buildings will have air conditioning for the first time, helping the district meet state guidance on extreme heat while also correcting uneven heating during winter months.

Additional improvements include card-swipe access for classroom doors, replacement of aging fuel tanks, new trash compactors, masonry repairs, and upgrades to libraries and instructional spaces. At the elementary school, a covered walkway will be added near the modular classrooms to better protect students during bad weather.

The overall cost is covered by approximately $40.5 million in state building aid, $10.85 million from the district’s capital reserve, and about $5.2 million in retiring debt redirected to the project. District officials noted that capital work of this kind is separate from the annual operating budget.

The land purchase tied to Proposition No. 2 will also be paid for with reserve funds and is intended specifically to address safety concerns at the elementary school’s narrow access point.

Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2027 and continue over at least two summers. Early phases will focus on interior work, with parking lot reconstruction among the most visible changes.

“We can now move ahead with the repairs and renovations our buildings need,” Katz said. “These improvements will benefit the district for years to come, and this vote showed that the community’s voice truly matters.”