"Yes" vote the best choice for all

For those that have some concerns about the cost of the proposed high school renovation I’d like to share with you why I believe that passing this referendum is in the best financial interest of our town. First, the renovation plan doesn’t just provide new science labs. The NEASC report identified many other issue that need to be addressed including safety issues such as inadequate fire suppression and inoperable windows, asbestos floor tiles and ADA compliance issues. These issues will have to be addressed at some point, either now with reimbursement from the state, or on their own in the future at full price. The construction market is starting to come back and prices will increase. Interest rates have nowhere to go but up, which means much higher borrowing costs. Not passing the referendum has the potential to impact the value of our homes. Towns with good schools have higher property values. I don’t want to see the value of my biggest investment, my home, decrease because of inaction. So, do nothing and devalue our homes and pay more later or vote yes – easy choice! Times are difficult, but it just doesn’t make sense to put off a project that will cost us more down the road. I will be voting yes, not just for my children, but for all who use our high school for meetings, theater productions, and as an emergency shelter and need a safe, ADA compliant facility. For our taxpayers who want to preserve the values of their property, for our residents on a fixed income who , while concerned about the cost of this now, certainly cannot afford to pay even more in the future if this referendum fails. Vote yes on June 4th. It’s the best choice for us all.