Taxpayer questions price of school sale

Posted 8/21/12

For over 15 years, financial mismanagement in the Sullivan West School District has been the talk of New York State for numerous reasons: Sullivan West squandered $40 million building the Lake …

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Taxpayer questions price of school sale

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For over 15 years, financial mismanagement in the Sullivan West School District has been the talk of New York State for numerous reasons: Sullivan West squandered $40 million building the Lake Huntington High School, which the New York State comptroller said was not needed. Additional millions were wasted on lawsuits and repairs to the high school due to its poorly supervised, shoddy construction.

In 2003, Sullivan West spent $4.7 million renovating the Narrowsburg School. Even more was spent on the Callicoon facility. Sullivan West abruptly closed both buildings two years later.

In 2012, Sullivan West sold the land surrounding the Callicoon School at a bargain-basement price. The purchaser promptly flipped the acreage for a handsome 46% profit.

Sadly, it appears Sullivan West has not learned from its many financial blunders.

In 2009, at the bottom of the worst real estate crash since the Depression, the Narrowsburg School building on 2.2 acres was professionally appraised for $700,000. The nearby 14.38-acre ball fields were appraised for $140,000—a total of $840,000. The properties are obviously worth more today.

Sullivan West is now jumping at the opportunity to unload both Narrowsburg parcels to a Florida drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for $751,000. You do the math.

Sullivan West Superintendent Nancy Hackett piously proclaims the district’s hands are tied and the district’s fiduciary duty to the taxpayers requires it to take this ridiculous offer. Baloney!

In fact, Sullivan West has the legal right to reject any offer less than $840,000.

Naturally area residents and taxpayers are up in arms about this hurried up, harebrained giveaway.

Sadly, Sullivan West is adding to its long list of fiscal fiascos once again.

Eric van Swol

Long Eddy, NY

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