Acclaro-- I have no way to verify who you spoke with at OSFC, or what was said. 40 - 45% is of course more than 26% but it is also, of course, less than 64%, which is what the OSFC has now told us they will match.  You say you were told that Middletown could receive funding in 3-5 years if the levy did NOT pass.  That is basically what I am saying when I say we would have to get in the back of the line.  Without any certainty that when we got to the front of the line again, the state would still have money available.  Passing the levy kept us in the front of the line, and it seems likely now that we will get more money from the state than the deal the voters approved.

 

First, the statements made during pre-election, that if the bond levy failed, the money promised by the state would go away, were and still are correct.  If we had not passed the bond levy within 13 months of our "number" coming up, as required by the state, we would have lost the money allocated for Middletown, and gone to the back of the line, with no guarantee of ever getting to the front of the line again.  We remain at the front of the line, so to speak, even if we walk away from the 2-phase agreement, BECAUSE we passed the bond levy, and have already received approval of our master plan fromt the OSFC.

 

Second, the statements made by acclaro and viet vet that the district could somehow get more state money than what the OSFC just proposed to us (64% of just this second phase project), if we didn't pass a bond levy, is not correct, unless they mean that Middletown may continue to slide in property values in relation to other districts, and if the district waits more years to apply, the percentage paid by the state could go up some more.  RIght now, the maximum the district can get is what the OSFC just proposed to us -- 64% of the high school/middle school project = $50 million.  By far the biggest change in valuation came from the elimination of the business tangible property tax; a small amount comes from Middletown's property values declining more than other districts in the recession.

 

Third, I don't understand acclaro's comments from Friday about accelerated payments.  What accelerated payments? The current recommendation from OSFC that the district drop the 2-phase agreement and switch to a new application for just the second phase, does not accelerate any payments.

 

Finally, I made many posts prior to the election on my views as to the need for new/renovated school buildings.  I have nothing further to say on that.  I posted here because I thought Vet had questions about the new development from the OSFC, which I have answered.