The Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District is currently in the process of planning an upcoming Capital Project, which is expected to go to voters for approval in February 2020. This Capital Project will address the extensive capital needs of the district's aging school buildings, which are between 60 and 90 years old. If approved, this project will be funded primarily through New York State Education Department Building Aid, with additional funding from the district's capital reserve. Through careful fiscal planning, and by prioritizing the needs of our buildings, this project will have little, if any, impact on property taxes.

Comprehensive planning has taken place to identify areas of need in all schools. Although the district will not be able to address all identified areas of need, this Capital Project will encompass critical maintenance and construction work as well as enhancements that will have the greatest impact upon student life and learning as well as health and safety.

This project will continue the work that began with the previous two capital projects, the first of which was approved by voters in 2009 and the second of which was approved by voters in 2014. The previous two projects were both completed on time and under budget. These projects were primarily funded through New York State Building Aid and addressed the most pressing needs of our school buildings at the time while also making significant investments in athletics/physical education and auditorium facilities with minimal impact on property taxes.

Because of the size of the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District, which encompasses nine schools with approximately 6,750 students, and because of the extensive capital needs of the district’s aging school buildings, it is necessary to spread this work over multiple projects. Also, as time passes, new needs and priorities emerge which cannot be addressed through the regular school district budgeting process and general fund. By organizing this work into a voter-approved capital project, these projects are able to be funded primarily through New York State Building Aid, which is a source of funding that would otherwise go to other school districts. It also enables the district to minimize the impact on property taxpayers.

All information and updates on the upcoming Capital Project will be posted at ktufsd.org/CapitalProject. Information on the project will be mailed to all school district residents prior to the vote. Also, a public forum will take place in each location that will undergo extensive construction work so that the entire school community will understand and have the opportunity to discuss the anticipated impact.

2014 Capital Project Information: