School District Bond Proposal Passes By Slim Margin

The Babylon School District bond proposal for a capital project to help repair the three schools has passed – by the slimmest of margins.

Voters approved the $26.6 million bond by a final vote count of 581 "yes" to 576 "no."

The approval by just five more votes will allow the district and school board to begin heading into the construction phase.

The plan, which has been heavily discussed for the past six to nine months at school board meetings, includes major upgrades to the district's three aging buildings including new roofing, redesigned and repurposed interior rooms, new cafeterias, new athletic fields and more.

The work for the project will be overseen by BBS Architecture of Patchogue, which has handled multiple district's revitalization and rebuilding efforts including those in Bay Shore and Southampton.

"We'll be talking with the architects and begin submitting plans to the state," said Roger Katz, board president, following the revelation of the final total. "Every vote counts."

"I'm thrilled," said school board member Dominic Bencivenga. "Thank you to the community. We are thrilled for the community and the school district."

Under the most recent proposal, the average household in Babylon Village would owe roughly $2 a month in the first year of the bond increasing to $25.41 a month throughout the majority of the bond's term.

The district would be reimbursed, according to board members, to roughly 46.3 percent of the funds through New York State building aid.

"We are going to make sure the faith the community showed in us is carried through," added Bencivenga. "We'll put together the best building project we can and make sure it is executed the best way possible. The winner today are the kids – they really won."