RIPLEY — The results of the vote are in and Ripley Central School District’s $10,196,736 capital project is a go.

Unofficial results of the ballot, held from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the school’s large gymnasium, the project passed, with 103 district residents voting “yes” and 46 residents voting “no.”

The project will have no tax impact on residents of the district. The original proposed Capital Project totaled approximately $8 million; however, state-mandates, in particular one to relieve heat-related discomfort, made it necessary to upgrade the building’s air conditioning system.

District Superintendent William Caldwell said the vote will help the administration continue to assess the needs of the district. “While we’re extremely happy that the community supported our capital project, we are also examining the responses we received from the exit poll to see what areas we can improve on for the next time we need a capital project,” he said.

Caldwell explained that the project will be funded by State Building Aid in the amount of $8,011,736, which will include EXCEL (Expanding Our Children’s Education and Learning) Aid from the New York State Education Department.

For the remainder, $621,241 will come from the Capital Improvements Reserve Fund, $400,000 will be from the Transportation Reserve Fund, and the general fund will cover $1,163,759, Caldwell said. “That results in a remaining local share of zero dollars,” he said. “It was a priority of the board and our leadership team to be mindful of the financial impact of a new capital project on our Ripley community.”

The project will be submitted to the State Education Department in the fall. If approved, construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2027 and be completed by the end of the school year in 2028.

Caldwell and members of the board of education expressed their thanks to all who came out and voted.