Turf repair fund in O’side budget

The total budget for the Oceanside School District has yet to be announced, but it will include a repair reserve to replace the varsity turf field at the high school. The board of education approved the creation of this reserve fund at the Feb. 19 meeting.

“As part of our budget development process over the next few months, there will be a line item on our budget called ‘Repair Reserve’ with a suggested allocation,” said Chris Van Cott, Oceanside’s assistant superintendent for business. “If the community approves the budget in May, that is our approval for how that reserve will be funded. Additionally, there is one other requirement, and that is when we are ready to expend the funds, it requires a board resolution and a public hearing.”

According to Van Cott, the turf on the field will need to be replaced in five to seven years. Money will be set aside in increments of approximately $160,000 a year over several years to fund the project, which is projected to cost between $700,000 and $800,000.

“I’m proposing to establish this reserve so that we can incrementally get to $800,000, as opposed to budgeting $800,000 in one year,” said Van Cott. “We’ll work our way up year over year to the amount of money that we’ll need.”

The initial $160,000 will come from the general fund. The district will have finished payments for the bleachers and district-wide phone system this year, which will open up money for the repair reserve.