With the option of extending the alternative veterans' tax exemption to school taxes, the Berne-Knox-Westerlo school board held a public hearing on the question but hasn't yet taken a vote.

The land is currently zoned Residential R15 and Residential R40, and would need to be re-zoned to Planned Unit Development — which can exceed zoned density requirements — in order for the project to go forward.

The town's attorney noted Town Law says the preliminary spending plan becomes the effective budget if the deadline to adopt a final version isn't met.