Burlington Special Election: Five Things to Know Before You Vote on Saturday

After months of anticipation, the special election that will determine the near- and possibly long-term fate of Burlington High School is just a day away. Here’s a quick refresher on what’s on the ballot and how you can vote.

When and Where to Vote

Election Day is Saturday, November 15, 2025.

• Polling Location: Burlington High School
• Open: 8:00 AM-8:00 PM

Absentee Voting is still open from 8:30 to noon on Friday, November 14, at Town Hall.

What’s on the Ballot

This special election asks voters to approve a debt exclusion in the amount of $333,000,000 for the proposed addition-renovation project at Burlington High School. The borrowing for this project was already approved by Town Meeting, pending this town-wide debt exclusion vote.

A debt exclusion would allow the town to raise taxes to service the debt for this project until it is paid off – a period of about 25 years. Some foundational information:

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What, Why, and Why Now?

All About Debt Exclusions:

Why It Matters

Burlington High School is currently more than 50 years old with original systems including heating, plumbing, and electrical. The school has been #1 on the list of priorities in the district for many years.

The school district has submitted statements of interest to the state reimbursement program for more than a decade, and the state has declined to support a new or renovated Burlington High School. In 2023, Town Meeting voted to allocate $1,500,000 for a feasibility study so the district could investigate the options without state assistance.

What proponents say

A main argument for those who urge voters to approve the project is that the school is not up to modern standards:

• Many classrooms don't have windows.
• The science classrooms and labs are outdated with poor ventilation.
• A sprinkler system is lacking.
• Many portions of the building are not totally accessible to those with disabilities.
• A failure of one of the mechanical systems could force a code upgrade, which the project team says would be more disruptive and nearly as costly as the project on the table.

What opponents say

The official NO New Taxes Political Action Committee says they're not against a new high school but now is not the right time, nor is the plan right:

• The $333,000,000 in borrowing would add on to another $110 or so for Fox Hill and the police station, both of which are already in process. Combined, this would rase taxes on the median home by more than $1,500 annually once the projects are fully bonded. This would represent a very steep increase during a time when many seniors and people on fixed incomes are already strapped.
• The group doesn't believe other options, including renovation-only, were sufficiently investigated.
• The town could potentially apply for state funding.
• The Center for Education, at a renovation cost of over $60 million, is another point of contention, with some saying this should not be included in the project.

What Happens Next

Results are expected Saturday night. If approved, design and construction would move into the next phase; if rejected, the School Committee and Building Committee will need to regroup and go back to the drawing board. The original $1.5 million in feasibility study funding is exhausted, though, which means if the project can't go forward after the election, the professional organizations – including the owner's project manager, architectural firm, and construction firm – will likely move on to other projects.

More than 3,000 ballots have already been cast via early and mail-in voting. If you haven't voted yet, make your plan to vote — and we’ll have updates and results right here at Burlington Buzz this weekend.