The $115.9 million school bond that was narrowly approved in a 4-3 vote by the Cape Elizabeth Town Council should be rejected by voters in November.
This is a rendering of the entrance to the proposed Cape Elizabeth Middle School, part of the education-related expenses in a $116 million borrowing referendum on November’s local ballot. Conceptual Design Rendering by Colby Co. Engineering and Simons Architects
According to Cape Elizabeth Town Manager Matt Sturgis, approving the proposed school project – which involves the building of new elementary and middle schools and the renovation of Cape Elizabeth High School – will result in a tax increase of 23.8 percent. This increase is based on borrowing $115.9 million over 30 years at an interest rate of 4 percent. The project also assumes an additional $5 million from grants, charitable contributions and other sources.
While those of us opposed to the project readily acknowledge the school board has worked very hard on developing it, the failure to establish a budget at the outset resulted in a flawed process that requires this unprecedented tax increase. Accordingly, we strongly oppose a tax increase of more than 23 percent to pay for the $115.9 million school project.
This is a rendering of the entrance to the proposed Pond Cove Elementary School entrance. Conceptual Design Rendering by Colby Co. Engineering and Simons Architects
We’re opposed to the project for at least six reasons.
Firstly, despite shrinking school enrollment – down from 1,867 to fewer than 1,500 students across the three schools in the last 15 years – the proposal calls for a 219,000-square-foot building for K-8, exceeding the size of the current K-8 buildings by more than 50 percent, and exceeding state per-student size guidelines by about 60,000 square-feet. At $500 per square foot, this is $30 million in excessive spending. The 219,000-square-feet figure does not include the outdoor site work proposed: an amphitheater, green garden roof and additional playing fields.
Secondly, the elementary and middle school buildings should be renovated, not replaced; renovation not only costs significantly less, but also is more environmentally responsible.
Thirdly, the simple fact of the matter is that many Cape residents cannot afford a 23.8 percent increase to their property taxes in a single year for this project (with debt payments that will continue for 30 years). Adding the normal estimated annual property tax increase of 5 percent, we can expect to see a 28-30 percent tax increase in the first year. Cape has little commercial tax base upon which to spread the resulting tax increase, which means that unlike Falmouth or Scarborough, a tax increase will be borne almost exclusively by residential homeowners.
Fourthly, such a large property tax increase will make Cape even more unaffordable for young homeowners with families, as well as the elderly on fixed incomes. Do we really want to exclude young families, working-class families and longtime senior residents? Do we want to become a community solely made up of high-income and wealthy people?
Fifthly, our town will get zero assistance from the state, placing the entire burden on taxpayers. We can do better; the planners need to go back to the drawing board to put together a more reasonable plan.
Finally, a 23.8 percent tax increase will handicap the ability of the school board and Town Council to provide other services for the next 30 years – including raises for teachers and municipal employees.
Should voters reject the project, the school board will be required to go back to the drawing board. The good news is that we have successfully gone back to the drawing board in the past. When a big, new, expensive library was proposed a decade ago, voters rejected that plan. A year later, Cape Elizabeth implemented a thoughtful and environmentally and economically responsible renovation.
The same process can be followed for the schools. Let’s reject this overblown plan Nov. 8 and instruct the school board and town council to come up with a more reasonable and affordable project.
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