Arlington Special Election: Did Voters Approve A New High School?

ARLINGTON, MA — Arlington residents hit the polls Tuesday to vote on two ballot questions, one of which determined the future of the Arlington High School Building Project. The project is estimated at close to $291 million, and the Massachusetts School Building Authority will pay a little over $86 million.

In order to pay back bonds sold to fund the $204.8 million Arlington is expected to kick in, residents were asked to vote on a debt exclusion to raise property taxes. The project was approved 208-10 at a Special Town Meeting in April.

The second ballot question was a Proposition 2 1/2 override that would raise property taxes by $5.5 million to pay the operating costs of the Town and School departments.

Some 12,723 of the 31,056 registered voters (or about 40 percent) showed up to cast a ballot.

Both questions passed overwhelmingly. See the ballot questions and results below.

Ballot Questions

1. Debt Exclusion

Shall the Town of Arlington be allowed to exempt from the provisions of Proposition two and-one-half, so called, the amounts required to pay for the bond or bonds issued for the purposes of paying costs of a project to demolish, design, construct, reconstruct, remodel, add to, and originally equip the Arlington High School, including replacing the existing facility located at 869 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington MA, and for the payment of all other costs incidental and related thereto?

Result:

9,761 Yes

2,930 No.

Here's a look at the breakdown by precinct:

"I would like to thank the voters of Arlington for supporting such an important project that will
only enhance Arlington’s future," Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine said in a statement. "I look forward to working with the High School Building Committee, MSBA, project partners, and the community to build a state-of-the-art high school that will serve Arlington for many years to
come."

2. Proposition 2 ½ Override

Shall the Town of Arlington be allowed to assess an additional $5,500,000 in real
estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of funding the operating budgets
of the Town and the Public Schools for the fiscal year beginning July first, 2019?

Result:

8,655 Yes,

4,029 No

The breakdown by precinct: