Ballot Questions Posted For Birch Grove Reconstruction, Budget

TOLLAND, CT — The ballot questions have been appoved for Tolland's May 7, referendum on budget numbers and the reconstruction of Birch Grove Primary School.

The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Tolland Public Library Program Room.

Here are the questions:

• Referendum Budget Question — "Shall the Town of Tolland's proposed 2019-2020 budget of $56,772,735 reflecting a spending increase of $602,038 or 1.07 percent, which requires a tax rate of 36.05 mills for an increase of 1.05 mills or 3 percent, be adopted? Yes/No."
• Referendum Question — "Shall the Town of Tolland appropriate $46,000,000 for the Birch Grove Primary School Project and authorize the issue of bonds and notes in the same amount to finance said appropriation? Yes/No"

Here are the basics on Birch Grove:

• Birch Grove Primary School was originally constructed in two phases starting in 1999 and then in 2001.
• The entire foundation has been tested and found to have levels of pyrrhotite.
• A structural engineer has determined that the crumbling foundation is impacting the integrity of the steel support columns of the building and that the building should not be occupied after the end of this school year to allow time to take corrective action.
• Based on the nature of the building and size, demolition and renovation as new is deemed the best possible option both in terms of cost and time to address the foundation and structural concerns.
• The State of Connecticut, through the Department of Administrative Services, School Facilities Division, has given the project "emergency status" which allows for additional state reimbursements (52 percent of the project cost) and accelerated construction process (2 years).
• Students will be housed in portable classrooms for the duration of the project which is estimated to be two years.
• Estimated cost of the project is $46 million which will be offset by 52% reimbursement from the State of Connecticut and possible additional federal assistance.
• A town building committee is being established to work with the architect and contractor on design and construction details.

More information on Birch Grove can be viewed here.

More budget information can be viewed here.