Article 4:
Souhegan School Maintenance Expendable Trust Fund ($325,000)
Warrant Article Language
Shall the Souhegan Cooperative School District raise and appropriate the sum of up to three hundred twenty five thousand dollars ($325,000) to be added to the Souhegan School Maintenance Expendable Trust Fund previously established in March 2005? This sum to come from the June 30, 2026 unassigned fund balance (surplus) available for transfer on July 1, 2026. No amount to be raised from new taxation. Majority vote required.
Recommended by the Souhegan Cooperative School Board (7-0)
Recommended by the Souhegan Cooperative School District Advisory Finance Committee (7-0)
Estimated tax impact of passing this article is $0.00 per thousand for Amherst and $0.00 per thousand for Mont Vernon.
Estimated tax impact of not passing this article is -$0.11 per thousand for Amherst and -$0.09 per thousand for Mont Vernon.
BOARD EXPLANATION
Our Director of Facilities has established a plan for the maintenance of Souhegan High School. Based on the estimated cost of the projects projected, a funding amount has been estimated to add the fund each year in order to have the funds available for the scheduled work. Our Director of Facilities also maintains an approximate balance of $180,000 for any emergencies that might occur at any time.
FY27 – Crack-fill and Sealcoat, Auditorium (rigging, lighting, stage), Controls BMS, DHW Generation, Café and Stage Floors, Double Steamer, 2 Door Fridge, Transformer & Pump upgrades
FY28 – Annex Building Generator, Fridge/Cooler Mechanical Equipment
FY29 – Phase 4 Skylights, Kitchen Burner Gas Range
FY30 – Main Building Boilers (2), Grounds Building Project
FY31 – Roof-Rubber Membrane (Annex), Flat Top Stove, Appliances
FY32 – Crack-fill & Sealcoat, Site Lighting, Emergency Lights, Classroom Ceilings, Halls/Stairs/Lobby, Gymnasium/Locker Room/Restrooms, Cafeteria and Stage Walls, Library Walls/Ceiling/Floors, Admin/Support Offices Walls/Ceilings, Kitchen Walls/Ceilings
FY33 – Classroom Walls, Landscaping, Exterior Walls – Metal Panels
FY34 – Boilers, Elevator Cab
SOUHEGAN ADVISORY FINANCE COMMITTEE COMMENTS
We unanimously voted to support (7 to 0) Articles 4 – 7 for the following reasons:
1) These articles meet the recommendations that have historically been made by the SAFC that the administration and Board create long term plans to meet the needs for upkeep and maintenance of the facilities as well as to start a fund to replace aging technology and expand our internal transportation system in order to save transportation costs and
2) The board has chosen to fund these items with the unassigned fund balance so as not to burden the taxpayers further.
The additional warrant articles are as follows:
Article 4 – School Maintenance Fund (Capital Reserve Fund) – $325,000 requested
Article 5 – Recreation Revolving Fund (previously known as the Turf Field Replacement Fund) – $100,000 requested to both continue to fund the turf field replacement as well as additional sports and recreation needs that may occur in the future
Article 6 – Technology Fund – $50,000 requested
Article 7 – Vehicle Fund (small vans for transporting students) – $20,000 requested to fund planned savings to replace, fund major repairs, and purchase new vehicles as needed
VOICE OF THE VOTER
This section provides voters and residents an opportunity to voice their opinions on the warrant articles. If you have an opinion you want to share please use the form below.