Change in Building Aid Estimates for Chapter 97 Projects
In November 2019, the State Aid Office revised the methodology for calculating Building Aid in the projected year. As you review your 2020-21 Executive Budget school aid runs, please be aware of this change. Previously, all capital projects eligible for Building Aid would generate an aid amount in the projected year (in this case, 2020-21) as long as there was a notification of contract signing via SA-139 form on file, and the date was beyond the later of the contract signing notification date (SA-139 receipt date) or the commissioner’s approval plus 18 months.
Building Aid is now estimated in the projected year if, in addition to those two conditions, there is a final Certificate of Substantial Completion (CSC) and Final Cost Report (FCR) on file or the project has received Early Aid Start (EAS) approval from SED Office of Facilities Planning. As you review your state aid runs and compile your 2020-21 school year budgets, be sure to note the status of your projects. Aid that was not projected for the 2020-21 aid year on the Executive Budget run may still materialize if the CSC and FCR are finalized and submitted by June 30, 2021.
If the CSC/FCR/EAS were not on file prior to the November 15th database update, but are on file now, you should expect to see those aid amounts included in the February 15th database.