Brasher Falls School District is getting an opportunity to get a facelift: An $8 million facelift. Our Cara Thomas tells us about the project.

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ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY, N.Y. -- In a time of tight budgets, the Brasher Falls School District is looking to save money by spending some. It is looking at an $8.2 million capital improvement project designed to improve the district's energy efficiency.

"The engineers project we'll save actually significantly more than $100,000 a year just switching to natural gas and hot water. This project is about improving the utility, the function and the life and use of the buildings," said Stephen Putman, Superintendent of Brasher Falls School District.

The plan would allow for over 30 improvement projects to take place. And the district is in a unique situation to do so.

Ninety-eight percent of the project will be funded completely by state aid and the remaining two percent will be funded by a program called EXCEL aid. And that means for voters, none of their taxes will be impacted.

The state's assistance means no out of pocket costs for the district and tax payers. But it's the savings the improvements will bring that the district says will make the most impact.

Putman said, "So if your heating bill is $100,000 less, then obviously you have more money to spend on educating children. With the money we're saving, if we can preserve teachers in the classroom, that will absolutely be the highest priority."

Putman says that $100,000 per year is enough to save at least two teacher positions. But it's not the first time taxpayers have been asked to approve this plan. And last time it received a no. Putman hopes the outcome of December 13th's vote will be different.