RANEY: Is the JC Renovation Value an Effective Use of City Dollars? Are we creating a $1.9M error?

Submitted by Brian Raney

The Board of Estimation & Taxation Funds Committee didn’t address an vital question about the Julian Curtiss  (JC) renovation bundled in the proposed Initially Selectman’s Budget (the Faculties part of which came from the Board of Education) – Is it an economical use of our revenue?

In the proposed spending budget, there are projections for foreseeable future decades.  Many colleges have total renovation line products in the subsequent 15 years.  There are also on-heading maintenance initiatives for the present yr, which include 5-yr projections, some of which specify which college will be performed in a presented yr, eg HVAC at Julian Curtiss in FY2024-2025.  This is redundant if a complete renovation takes place, as these identical fees are integrated in the renovation or no more time demanded, this kind of as that JC HVAC operate.  (Never believe that me?  Check out the Task Details Sheets in the Proposed Money Budget.)

There are two entire university renovations planned for the upcoming 5 yrs – JC in 2022 and Outdated Greenwich (OG) in 2024.  Education Specifications are total for JC and just about performed for OG.

There are fears amongst quite a few about the scope of the Ed Specs for JC and growing area at a university that is only at 60% ability.  For comparison, OG is at 79%.  Even Parkway is at 79%.

In the subsequent 5 decades, JC has about $5.9M in identifiable upkeep prices.  OG has about $9.3M   The value of the JC renovation is $26.7M.  The price tag of the OG renovation is $28.2M.  If we do the full renovation, we help you save the price tag of the 5-calendar year routine maintenance.  The net price of the OG renovation would only be $18.9M vs the $20.9M for JC – a savings of $1.9M.

Another way to appear at it is what is more very affordable to sustain for the future 5 decades – JC at $5.9M or OG at $9.3M?

An additional evaluate of bang for our buck is how a lot of college students we’re impacting.  Even if we contemplate the faculty capacity fairly than enrolled pupils, it is more cost-effective on a for each seat basis to do OG.

Central Center Faculty is not scheduled for renovation right until 2033 but has $21.5M in servicing in the following 5yrs. Which is $10M over any elementary faculty.  Not shelling out twice for that upkeep would be a big earn. 2033 is a prolonged way out but the stories on the university as it is currently are not superior. BOE has a cash request this yr to do a thorough report to have an understanding of its condition (which, by the way, undermines even the directional usefulness of the KG+D report).  Sadly, there isn’t ample details to involve CMS in the conclusion of which college to renovate next.

We have a ton of “maintenance debt” on our educational institutions that is coming owing.  Spending $1.9M less will be helpful.  In fact, that discounts can be applied to JC or CMS.  Win-get!  Hopefully the comprehensive Bet will inquire the query.

Brian Raney crafting solely for himself