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Caroline Supervisors give School Board Date published: 11/1/2009
BY PORTSIA SMITH
The Caroline County Board of Supervisors gave the School Board the go-ahead to apply for $10 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for energy-efficient projects. School Superintendent Greg Killough presented a funding request to the supervisors Tuesday night that included $9.5 million to be spent on projects at Caroline High School and $500,000 to be spent on energy projects at the Bowling Green Annex. Gov. Tim Kaine announced the funding program a few weeks ago. It authorizes $119 million in bonds for energy-efficient improvements and renovations, as well as renewable energy projects for existing public school buildings. Killough explained that many of the proposed improvements would be to high school infrastructure that has not been replaced since it was built in the early 1970s. Caroline's Financial Consultant Courtney Rogers of Davenport Inc. explained the payback provision for the $10 million. According to the guidelines of the program, the principal of up to 10 percent would be paid back in the first five years and increase upon the life of the loan, likely to be 15 years. The loan program is designed at nearly zero interest. The program has a deadline application of Nov. 11. According to Rogers, the application can be submitted but the Board of Supervisors could opt out if it decided not to borrow the money. Rogers will report back at the Nov. 12 meeting with more details of the program and to see if the loan could be refinanced at a lower rate after the fifth year. The supervisors affirmed the loan application by a 3-2 vote, with supervisors Bobby Popowicz and Jeff Sili opposing the action. Other board actions, supervisors: Honored the school system for reaching full accreditation and also making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Approved a second request by the School Board to spend $42,000 on repairs to a sewer line at the Bowling Green Annex and to appropriate future funds for connection fees of $38,000. Approved $1,000 contribution to the Caroline Rotary Club for its annual Senior Citizens' Gala. Discussed a draft lease of the former commissioner of the revenue's space in the County Courthouse for the Caroline Museum and deferred action until the Nov. 12 meeting. Received more information on a request by Peumansend Creek Regional Jail to allow incarceration of federal prisoners in accordance with an agreement with the Board Supervisors. Action was deferred until the Nov. 12 meeting. Authorized a public hearing in November on a new cable TV franchise ordinance. Portsia Smith: 540/374-5419
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