Taxpayers within Sewanhaka School District will be voting later this month on an $86 million bond to be used toward repairs at five high schools.

Sewanhaka School Superintendent Dr. Ralph Ferrie tells News 12 that the schools suffer from leaky roofs and faulty heating ventilations systems. He also says the district's five high school auditoriums are in need of an overhaul.

According to literature put out by the district, the bond will cost the average homeowner about $9.50 per month, which equals $114 per year.

Pat Nicolosi, who heads up a civic group in the district, wants to know why the buildings have not been maintained using school budget money.

"What have past boards been doing to keep up these buildings?" she asks.

Dr. Ferrie says maintenance was scaled back due to the failing economy and the tax cap that has been in place for previous budgets in order to maintain student programs.

In December, a $99 million bond referendum failed. The now scaled-down version is up for a vote on May 20.