Camillus, N.Y. — West Genesee Central School District voters approved two ballot referendums Monday, giving the green light to millions of dollars in school repairs and the purchase of a nearby golf course.
Voters approved the repairs proposition 64% to 36%, or 2,100 votes to 1,177. They approved the golf course acquisition by a narrower margin — 53% to 47%, or 1,737 votes to 1,552.
The $43.5 million in repairs will mostly be concentrated at West Genesee High School and Camillus Middle School. They include reconstructing the high school’s lower stadium and replacing a field scoreboard, along with improvements to the roof, kitchen and flooring. The public address system, chiller, kitchen wall and floor, lighting control and emergency lights at the middle school will all be replaced.
District officials said the state will pay for about 80% of the repairs. The remainder will be covered by $2 million from the capital reserve fund and about $5.3 million from a tax hike.
Read more: A Syracuse-area school district takes step to buy golf course for $4 million
Plans are less clear for the former Westvale Golf Course, a sprawling 117-acre property next to the high school.
David Bills, the district superintendent, pitched the $4 million purchase as a way to unlock more land for the district. He previously said potential uses include a transportation garage, athletic fields or combination of a nature center and walking trails.
The district will draw $916,752 from its fund balance to pay for the golf course, along with $3,433,248 in borrowed money, to be repaid over 30 years.
The course was previously owned by siblings Gary Hewitt and Debbie Anthony. The golf course has been in operation since 1930 and in Hewitt’s family since 1951.
Staff writer Jon Moss covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at jmoss@syracuse.com or @mossjon7.