FHS Building Project: Spend More Money To Get More Money

FARMINGTON, CT — In June 2021, voters in town said "yes" to spending $135.6 million for a new, state-of-the-art Farmington High School building at Monteith Drive.

Nearly a year and a half later, voters will have to go to the polls again if they want the same project they approved in 2021 and town leaders have approved another referendum, perhaps next month.

But according to municipal officials, spending the added money now might result in a net project cost decrease in the long-run, a byproduct of an increase in the state's share of the project.

As a result, the town is on a very fast track to a voter decision next month for the added funds.

The Farmington Town Council last week unanimously charged the Farmington High School Building Committee to begin work on another referendum for the project.

This vote would be for an additional $9.7 million, funding local officials claim is necessary to help bring the project up to original standards and secure additional state reimbursements.

According to the town, construction projections alone were nearly $6 million over budget, something attributed to the supply chain inflationary issues impacting nearly all construction projects.

The building committee did mull other options, including a scaling back of the project and tapping into contingency funds to make up the cost increases.

Ultimately, the extra referendum path was deemed the least risky and something that might result in a long-term cost savings.

According to a town fact sheet given to council members prior to their vote last week, Farmington's state reimbursement rate for the project now stands at 30 percent following the most recent legislative session.

At the time of the project's initial approval more than a year ago, it was an 18.93 percent reimbursement for new construction and 28.93 percent for renovations.

Now, the whole project is, simply, subject to a 30-percent reimbursement, meaning Farmington could actually gain $14.7 million in state funding if it approves the added funds to keep the same project scope.

Long-term, town officials said, this means a net cost to local taxpayers of $104.3 million, while — under the prior arrangements in 2021 — the net cost would have been $109.3 million.

As for when this would happen, tentative plans call for a referendum in December.

The following timeline was, tentatively, approved by the council last week:

• Farmington High School Building Committee community forum Nov. 9.

• Farmington Town Council vote to send bonding resolution to a town meeting/referendum on Nov. 15

• Special Town Meeting to decide the bonding Nov. 28, which would adjourn to a referendum vote.

• Voters head to the polls Dec. 8 to decide the $9.7 million Farmington High School building project appropriation.

For the minutes of the Farmington Town Council's Oct. 25 meeting, click on this link.

For the resolution approved and Oct. 25's meeting agenda, click on this link.

For more information on the Farmington High School building project, click on this link.

From Aug. 2: 'Farmington High Project Marching Along'

For the Town of Farmington's website, click on this link.