The Farmingdale School District Facilities Advisory Committee is asking residents to vote yes on Proposition #3, A Reallocation of Capital Funds, on May 17, since passage does not carry any cost to taxpayers.

"The Committee has spent two years establishing important work that needs to be done to protect our schools," said Heather Weber, who has served on the independent committee since its initiation by the Farmingdale School Board. "Approval of Proposition #3 will help us get started," Weber added.

In a public presentation to the Farmingdale Board of Education last month, committee member Rick Morrison outlined the high-priority projects that the reallocation of capital funds will accomplish: repair of exterior brick walls at Howitt Middle School and Farmingdale High School; roof drain repair at Howitt Middle School West; completion of exterior door replacement at Farmingdale High School, and replacement of the original pool dehumidification system.

"Money spent on the structure of our buildings is money well spent," said Kevin Gail. "As residents and taxpayers we have so much invested in our schools. We need to protect that investment."

The money to be reallocated has accumulated over 20 years, as a result of past and on-going capital projects that have been accomplished at a lower cost than budgeted. Morrison noted that the accumulation of these funds is attributable to the district's careful management practices, streamlined project specifications and competitive bidding. However, the community must vote to re-commit the money to current building needs.

Committee member Pete Lauro stated, "I grew up in Farmingdale and, with my wife, both of us Farmingdale graduates, we look forward to raising our family here and sending our children to Farmingdale schools. We need to take care of our schools."

Morrison remarked that plans to replace the original pool dehumidification system "are essential for all of our swimming programs in the school and the community. We have been repairing the pool dehumidification system for 40 years, and just like the family automobile, there comes a time when the equipment exceeds its useful life and it's not cost effective to continue repairs. Since the money is there and it will not cost the taxpayer anything, we need to get started."

Committee member Joe Tafuro said that with one child in kindergarten and one in sixth grade, he became involved on the committee "to make sure that our buildings are in good shape for my children."

Polls are open on Tuesday, May 17, at the Howitt East Gymnasium from 6 a.m.-9 p.m.