Ferguson-Florissant Board Approves $5.7 Million in Capital Improvements

The Ferguson-Florissant Board of Education approved a $5.7 million capital budget Wednesday night for district improvements in 2013-2014.

The funding comes from a $25 million no-tax-rate-increase bond issue passed by voters in August 2010. According to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article, the district bought bonds to pay for facility and technology upgrades. No tax money is needed, and the bonds can’t be used to pay for items such as salaries and benefits, transportation, utilities, textbooks or other supplies.

The allocation comes as the board and district consider another bond issue for other district and infrastructure needs.

Financial Director Laura Modrusic explained the bond funds will be used for scheduled projects under the original Capital Improvement Plan for 2013-2014.

The largest expenditures will go toward infrastructure and building systems as well as technology services, with $2.7 million and $1.2 million respectively. Other funding will go toward equipment replacement, major replacement outlay and miscellaneous projects.

This is the third full year for the bond.

Modrusic said that the other $5 million of the bond would go toward the next year for capital improvements.