Tues. Sept. 25 referendum vote:

School Superintendent Cynthia Bianco and her staff have spent months making an assessment of capital improvements and came up with a financing plan that will not put the burden on local taxpayers.

Like other campuses, Henry L. Kalfas Magnet school needs improvements. The referendum will decide whether state or local taxpayers pay for these.

Tuesday, September 25, is an important day for taxpaying residents of Niagara Falls. Registered voters will be asked to vote in a School Board referendum whether to approve a $66.7 million capital improvement bond sale.

The Niagara Falls Reporter has written at length on this topic and supports an affirmative vote on the issue.

We believe it is advantageous to the community to vote "yes" on this proposition because it spreads the cost of capital improvements for Niagara Falls schools to all taxpayers of New York State and not just the people of Niagara Falls.

A "no" vote delays the reconstruction and will likely place the burden on the taxpayers of the Cataract City exclusively.

No matter how one feels about the issue, the Reporter encourages all voters to take the time and cast a ballot. Given the importance of this proposition, it should be decided by a clear majority of the eligible population.

When this issue came to a vote last year, only about 2,600 out of 25,000 registered voters came out to vote and the majority voted against it. Such a small percentage should not decide such an important funding measure, which could impact all property taxpayers down the line.