County to borrow $6.4 million for improvements at Sussex Tech

Recently greenlighted improvements will help Sussex County Technical School grow, county commissioners said.

The Sussex County Commissioners on March 23 introduced two ordinances, the first for $6.4 million in bonds that will pay for work at the school, including the demolition of pool infrastructure, and the construction and expansion of classroom space for vocational and technical program.

The commissioners authorized the bond in support of Sussex Tech receiving school security money through New Jersey’s Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act, signed in January by Gov. Phil Murphy.

Commissioner Dawn Fantasia said Vo-Tech seats are in high demand, but there aren’t enough openings at the school. “I’m very hopeful as they expand, as they renovate, and they actually use grant funding in a smart manner that will be able to serve more students in the county who really wish to pursue career and technical education,” Fantasia said.

The board had unanimously passed a resolution earlier in the meeting in support of the school receiving the grant. The county portion – $1.4 million – is 25 percent of the total sum allocated for improvements. The state’s portion is 75 percent but is done by reimbursement. The county will borrow the full cost of the project and will be reimbursed throughout the year.

The commissioners also introduced a capital ordinance approving spending of $815,000 to pay for the connection fees and sewer allocation for the school to hook up with the sewer main in Sparta Township. The state financed the line in 2014.

Both ordinances passed unanimously, and will be the subject of public hearings on April 13.