Rye City School Bond Passes By Large Margin

Rye voters have had their say. A streamlined $16 million bond referendum passed Tuesday night by a margin of 794 votes, according to Karina Stabile of the .

The final tally was 1842 to 1048. 

In tax year 2012-2013, Rye taxpayers will pay an additional $1.76 in taxes and an additional $250 for seven subsequent years to fund the bond. 

The money will be used to create ten new classrooms at the buildings. This will include a new science wing containing 12 classrooms and conversion of 7 current labs to 9 general education classrooms. Four portable classrooms will be removed and parking spaces reclaimed.

School administration and the board maintained an anticipated increase in student population made the renovations absolutely necessary to accommodate a consistent growth in the number of students utilizing the middle and hogh school buildings. The district anticipates an increase of 242 students in coming years.

After an earlier $16 million version of the , the Board of Education quicly returned to the drawing board to offer a revised proposal that offset the initial tax impact by tapping into the budget fund reserves.

Next on the agenda: approval of the Rye City School budget on April 3.