Letter to the Editor: Trust the Experts and Proceed As Planned

 To the Editor:

Please get out and vote!

The high school project will be the largest investment in Burlington history.  Please cast your vote based on data and facts.  Don’t be swayed by the loudest voices or the most energetic sign wavers.  Listen to the people who have been studying this issue for two years - rely on their information.  Recent nay-sayers who were not involved in the dozens of open public hearings now want to jump in and just say “no new taxes” without a good understanding of the full financial implications.

Our true options: pay over $300M to patch up an old school or $330M to create a new school.  That is the real choice.  Our existing high school needs significant repairs now and certainly more in the foreseeable future (e.g. boilers/HVAC system). 

MA building codes require bringing the entire building up to current code if:

• The scope of the project exceeds 50% of the building's total floor area or
•  If the project cost exceeds 30% of the building’s cash value
• If trying to renovate piecemeal, “The value of all work completed within a 36-month period must be considered” when calculating the above percentages.  Thus, doing a smaller portion every year may not be a mechanism to escape the code upgrade requirements.

Clearly, the renovations needed would trigger these thresholds.  The longer we wait to do renovations or a new build, the costs will be even higher than today’s estimate.  The $330M cost we are voting on November 15 was fixed by Town Meeting and cannot be exceeded. 

Estimates from our reputable and experienced contractor, Dore+Whittier, show that a renovation-only cost would exceed $300M while the cost for the current plan of a totally new educational building with complete renovation of accessory areas (auditorium, Center for Education) is $334.8M.  Either way, taxes will go up similarly.  The Town would be better served with a new, modern educational facility.

This plan was supported strongly by those we have faith in to make such choices in the best interests of our Town:  Select Board voted 5-0 in favor; Ways and Means (who understand the full current and future financial implications better than anyone) voted 14-0-0 in favor; the School Committee (who we elect to make the important educational choices for our children) voted 5-0 in favor.  The High School Building Committee supported unanimously after input from many open, public meetings.  Town meeting exceeded the required 2/3 majority.

All of that was after in-depth analysis of 10 different options, including renovation-only.

To me, the clear choice is to proceed with the project as proposed.  I encourage everyone to vote on November 15 and strongly recommend a vote of YES.

Bill Boivin
Fox Hill Rd.
Town Meeting Member, Precinct 1