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Hernando Today

New High School Still On Track

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By LINNEA BROWN

Hernando Today

Published: June 18, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - It may prove expensive to operate, but budget cuts won't stop officials from opening Hernando County's newest high school in fall 2010.

With approval for more than $431,300 in site work approved 4-1 at Tuesday's school board meeting, the new school - to be located north of Hexam Road on U.S. 19 in Spring Hill - is meant to alleviate overcrowding at the district's other high schools.
Finance director Deborah Bruggink explained that the construction of the school and its adjacent K-8 school, which will be built on the same parcel of land, are both being paid for through a voter-approved sales tax.

That money cannot be used for any other projects except new school construction, and students' individual funding will follow them to the new school.

But once built, the school's maintenance and operational costs are going to be expensive, said board member Pat Fagan, who voted against the project due to current and impending state budget cuts.

"I'm very supportive of the new high school being built," he said. "My only concern is that once we build that building, how are we going to pay for its maintenance? Especially knowing that we're looking at another major decrease in revenue in November."
Fagan requested that board members consider delaying the project, to no avail.

"I understand your point, but because of the overcrowding issue, I cannot vote against this," Chairwoman Sandra Nicholson said. "In two years, the overcrowding will be even worse than it is now."

Facilities director Roland Bavota explained that the new school will be "green," or an environmentally-friendly and low-maintenance school with operational costs kept as efficient as possible.

While estimated operational costs were not available at the meeting, Nicholson said she has requested a board workshop to discuss numbers as officials get further along in the school's planning process.

But Fagan still expressed doubts.

"I'm concerned about spending any more money at this time, until we determine that we can operate and maintain the project once we open it," he said. "We're talking about millions of dollars, and we're talking about millions of dollars in cuts from the state. I think it would be better to wait until we have a better idea of how much of a (loss) we're looking at."

State budget cut projections may cause the district to lose an additional $3.1 million, with figures slated to become clear after July 19, Bruggink said.

That's in addition to a $2 million revenue shortfall that has caused major revamping of the budget's expenses.

Reporter Linnea Brown can be reached at 352-544-5289 or lbrown@hernandotoday.com.

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