GOSHEN, N.Y. (May 23, 2016) – Hudson Valley-based public relations and marketing firm Focus Media, which produced capital improvement bond and budget communications for the City School District of New Rochelle, played a key role with Tuesday’s passage of the $106.5 million bond referendum. The annual operating budget also passed by a wide margin.
Voters approved the bond by an unofficial 3,418-1,356 total. The endorsement is a dramatic turnaround by voters who narrowly defeated a $49.5 million bond just last December. The bond will fund urgent infrastructure needs in every school and address significant and necessary health and safety projects. Under the bond, work at various schools will include roof replacements; masonry restorations; window replacements; exterior and interior door replacements; elevator installations; ADA compliance upgrades; HVAC, electrical and plumbing upgrades; pavement and drainage replacements; athletic field replacements; exterior stair and ramp reconstruction; and interior improvements at each building.
The bond will keep taxes stable for residents, as there will be no net increase in debt service over the lifetime of the bond because of completing payments on existing debt, low interest rates on lending and a 48.7 percent reimbursement rate from New York State.
The school district’s $253.7 million 2016-17 budget – which calls for a 1.11 percent tax levy increase over the previous year – was also approved, by an unofficial 3,429-1,363 vote. All programs, faculty and staff positions currently in place for this school year are maintained. The budget adds three kindergarten-grade 5 and four grade 7-12 teaching positions to accommodate enrollment increases and stable class sizes.
“Focus Media did a masterful job helping us communicate the benefits and the importance of the bond,” said Superintendent Dr. Brian G. Osborne. “It was a multi-dimensional campaign that informed the public in an effective way.”
About Focus Media
Focus Media, Inc. is an award-winning, full-service public relations and marketing firm specializing in market research, branding, design, collateral development, TV and radio production, media planning and placement. Since launching the company in 2002, President and CEO Josh Sommers has assembled a highly talented team of marketing experts, public relations strategists and acclaimed graphic designers that have made Focus Media a preeminent advertising agency known for its creativity, innovation and cutting edge marketing strategies. For more information, visit www.focusmediausa.com.
