Voters Approve Public Safety/DPW Complex Funding

The Mansfield police, fire, and public works departments will get their new building.

On Tuesday, the town voted in favor of a debt exclusion to pay for the nearly $35 million by a vote of 1,240 to 1,060 according to the Sun Chronicle. Voter turnout was 15.15 percent.

Using a temporary property increase known as a debt exclusion, residents will fund the 40-238-square-foot complex to be built on East Street. Voters at the Annual Town Meeting approved the project in May, but a ballot vote was needed for the project to move forward.

In a prepared statement, finance committee Chairman Steve Schoonveld praised the decision by voters to fund the new building.

“This is a significant decision that supports our ability to be financially flexible. It supports our ability to address the school infrastructure needs within our robust capital improvement program. And it enables us to invest in building up our tax base so that we can reduce the long-term burden on us as residential taxpayers.,” he said.

Construction is expected to start next year and will take 18-24 months to complete.