http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20101119/NEWS02/711199915
Published November 19, 2010 in the Rutland Herald
School Board to appeal town assessment
By SUSAN SMALLHEER
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield School Board plans to appeal the town’s assessment on the former North School, which will be turned over to a community group in the future.
School Board Chairman Scott Adnams said the North School Preservation Society was just starting its environmental study of the school, which is expected to contain an unknown amount of asbestos.
Adnams told members of the School Board this week the North School Preservation Society would like the school district to appeal the school’s current assessment of $450,000.
“They feel the building is overvalued,” said Adnams, who added the group had reported a “very successful fundraising season.”
“This building in my opinion is a liability, not an asset,” said board member Ken Vandenburgh. The group’s request “is a very reasonable request for the district to pursue,” he said.
Vandenburgh, who lives in North Springfield, urged the school administration to file the property appeal soon and “get it out of the way.” Voters at town meeting voted overwhelmingly to sell the former North Springfield elementary school to the community group, 1,676-401.
The school was closed in 1984 after more than 70 years as a community school. The North School Preservation Society is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization.
The group wants to keep the school’s grounds open to the public for recreation, and it is also exploring the possibility of establishing a community center in the old brick school.
While the former elementary school currently is not taxed since it is still owned by the school district, the high assessment would affect the state transfer tax, Adnams said.
Adnams said the school property is currently listed as having two different lots.
Filing an appeal with the town’s Board of Civil Authority would be largely a formality, since the property doesn’t generate any tax income.
“Since there are no taxes involved, there is no cost to the community. There’s not a downside to doing it,” said Steve Hier, the school district’s finance director.
In other action, the board approved three new members of the Budget Advisory Committee: Tammy Farmer, Ed Caron and Sean Foulois.
School Board to appeal town assessment
By SUSAN SMALLHEER
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield School Board plans to appeal the town’s assessment on the former North School, which will be turned over to a community group in the future.
School Board Chairman Scott Adnams said the North School Preservation Society was just starting its environmental study of the school, which is expected to contain an unknown amount of asbestos.
Adnams told members of the School Board this week the North School Preservation Society would like the school district to appeal the school’s current assessment of $450,000.
“They feel the building is overvalued,” said Adnams, who added the group had reported a “very successful fundraising season.”
“This building in my opinion is a liability, not an asset,” said board member Ken Vandenburgh. The group’s request “is a very reasonable request for the district to pursue,” he said.
Vandenburgh, who lives in North Springfield, urged the school administration to file the property appeal soon and “get it out of the way.” Voters at town meeting voted overwhelmingly to sell the former North Springfield elementary school to the community group, 1,676-401.
The school was closed in 1984 after more than 70 years as a community school. The North School Preservation Society is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization.
The group wants to keep the school’s grounds open to the public for recreation, and it is also exploring the possibility of establishing a community center in the old brick school.
While the former elementary school currently is not taxed since it is still owned by the school district, the high assessment would affect the state transfer tax, Adnams said.
Adnams said the school property is currently listed as having two different lots.
Filing an appeal with the town’s Board of Civil Authority would be largely a formality, since the property doesn’t generate any tax income.
“Since there are no taxes involved, there is no cost to the community. There’s not a downside to doing it,” said Steve Hier, the school district’s finance director.
In other action, the board approved three new members of the Budget Advisory Committee: Tammy Farmer, Ed Caron and Sean Foulois.
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