SMARTaxes
Scarborough Maine Advocates for Reasonable Taxes
Vote NO for fairness and financial responsibility!
Dear Scarborough friends and neighbors,
On November 4, we'll be voting on a $140 million school building project -- the largest school project ever paid for by local taxpayers in the State's history. Including interest costs, the total we'll be paying is a staggering $221 million!
The Town is once again embracing the "Go Big or Go Home!" philosophy. While we agree that there are some legitimate school needs, we believe a more cost-effective solution can be found to address the critical needs.
Such a solution will better balance the community's need for reasonable taxes with the schools' need for appropriate facilities. We are urging a NO vote on the two school referendum questions.
This is an important issue for taxpayers! We've included lots of information you won't find anywhere else. We hope you'll take the extra minute or two to read it all! Thanks!
What are we voting on?
As shown in the following table, there are two referendum questions. Question 1 is for a $130 million project to make additions and renovations to the Blue Point, Pleasant Hill, Middle and Wentworth Schools. Also included is the demolition and rebuilding of the Eight Corners School on its existing site.
Question 2, which will only be effective if Question 1 passes, is for an additional $10 million expansion of the Middle School.
On November 4, we'll be voting on a $140 million school building project -- the largest school project ever paid for by local taxpayers in the State's history. Including interest costs, the total we'll be paying is a staggering $221 million!
The Town is once again embracing the "Go Big or Go Home!" philosophy. While we agree that there are some legitimate school needs, we believe a more cost-effective solution can be found to address the critical needs.
Such a solution will better balance the community's need for reasonable taxes with the schools' need for appropriate facilities. We are urging a NO vote on the two school referendum questions.
This is an important issue for taxpayers! We've included lots of information you won't find anywhere else. We hope you'll take the extra minute or two to read it all! Thanks!
What are we voting on?
As shown in the following table, there are two referendum questions. Question 1 is for a $130 million project to make additions and renovations to the Blue Point, Pleasant Hill, Middle and Wentworth Schools. Also included is the demolition and rebuilding of the Eight Corners School on its existing site.
Question 2, which will only be effective if Question 1 passes, is for an additional $10 million expansion of the Middle School.
Here, briefly summarized, are the five major reasons we oppose the proposed $140 million project...
#1 -- It costs more than taxpayers said they are willing to pay
#1 -- It costs more than taxpayers said they are willing to pay
The table above summarizes the April 2024 community survey results. As can plainly be seen, nearly a majority of residents (46%) wanted an additional tax impact of less than $200 per year. That would equate to a project size of $70 million or less.
But the Building Committee talked itself into interpreting the results to mean that the $200-$400 range was the appropriate measure of community sentiment. They then decided, inexplicably, that the top end of the range ($400 per year tax increase) was what a majority of residents were willing to pay. The $400 amount equates to a $130 million project size. This exercise in wishful thinking produced what the Schools refer to as "what the community was willing to pay." We don't think so!
#2 -- Taxpayer impact has been understated
But the Building Committee talked itself into interpreting the results to mean that the $200-$400 range was the appropriate measure of community sentiment. They then decided, inexplicably, that the top end of the range ($400 per year tax increase) was what a majority of residents were willing to pay. The $400 amount equates to a $130 million project size. This exercise in wishful thinking produced what the Schools refer to as "what the community was willing to pay." We don't think so!
#2 -- Taxpayer impact has been understated
After convincing themselves that taxpayers are willing to pay $400 per year, the Schools decided to present the tax impact in a manner that (sneakily) minimizes how much additional we will be paying over the next 5-10 years. They do that by prominently featuring the average annual tax impact over the 32 years that the bonds will be outstanding. That average is an additional $386 per year for the median home currently assessed at $600,000.
But what are the actual annual additional taxes you'll pay in the five years after all the bonds are issued in 2029? The actual additional amount will be between $563 and $646 per year! And that's if just the $130 million bond passes.
If the additional $10 million bond were also to pass (), the total additional tax would be between $607 and $696. Nearly $700 in 2029! Quite a bit more than the heavily advertised $386, isn't it? But that's just the way they do things. (We've heard of some folks who are voting NO! just based on this little trick.)
But what are the actual annual additional taxes you'll pay in the five years after all the bonds are issued in 2029? The actual additional amount will be between $563 and $646 per year! And that's if just the $130 million bond passes.
If the additional $10 million bond were also to pass (), the total additional tax would be between $607 and $696. Nearly $700 in 2029! Quite a bit more than the heavily advertised $386, isn't it? But that's just the way they do things. (We've heard of some folks who are voting NO! just based on this little trick.)
#3 -- "Go Big or Go Home!" strikes again!
By now, we should all be used to the "Go Big or Go Home" approach that the Town usually takes on major building projects: "As long as we're doing this, we might as well max it out. Perhaps nobody will notice." The most recent examples of this phenomenon were the incredibly expanding library project and the embarrassingly expensive pool/community center proposal, both of which imploded from excess.
It's no wonder that this happens when you consider how these committees of residents work. A bunch of folks who are passionately in favor of a project get together without a budget limit and are told to come up with a building plan. Surprise! The identified "needs" are unconstrained and the plan ends up being super expensive. What other result would you expect?
That's what happened with the school project as well. Every possible "need" was cataloged and amplified, resulting in the current project.
When the Building Committee became concerned that a $130 million project might not be approved by voters, they went to the School Board and asked them to help prioritize the needs in order to reduce the scope and price of the project. "No way!," the School Board replied, "we need it all!" So here we are... "Going Big" again!
#4 -- The proposed solution inadequately addresses taxpayer realities
By now, we should all be used to the "Go Big or Go Home" approach that the Town usually takes on major building projects: "As long as we're doing this, we might as well max it out. Perhaps nobody will notice." The most recent examples of this phenomenon were the incredibly expanding library project and the embarrassingly expensive pool/community center proposal, both of which imploded from excess.
It's no wonder that this happens when you consider how these committees of residents work. A bunch of folks who are passionately in favor of a project get together without a budget limit and are told to come up with a building plan. Surprise! The identified "needs" are unconstrained and the plan ends up being super expensive. What other result would you expect?
That's what happened with the school project as well. Every possible "need" was cataloged and amplified, resulting in the current project.
When the Building Committee became concerned that a $130 million project might not be approved by voters, they went to the School Board and asked them to help prioritize the needs in order to reduce the scope and price of the project. "No way!," the School Board replied, "we need it all!" So here we are... "Going Big" again!
#4 -- The proposed solution inadequately addresses taxpayer realities
Scarborough is a fairly affluent town; the COVID-based influx of well-paid remote workers has contributed to that status. At the same time, a significant number of residents are at the lower end of the income scale.
In fact, 37% of Town households include someone age 65 or older, many living on fixed incomes. And 27% of households are at or below the “survival budget” level identified by the United Way.
Assuming all Scarborough taxpayers can readily absorb the proposed tax increase, especially after last year’s revaluation-related increases, is simply unrealistic. For residents at lower income levels, an 8% tax hike — on top of the typical yearly increases — is a serious burden, not a minor adjustment.
#5 -- Eight Corners School is a poor choice for expansion
In fact, 37% of Town households include someone age 65 or older, many living on fixed incomes. And 27% of households are at or below the “survival budget” level identified by the United Way.
Assuming all Scarborough taxpayers can readily absorb the proposed tax increase, especially after last year’s revaluation-related increases, is simply unrealistic. For residents at lower income levels, an 8% tax hike — on top of the typical yearly increases — is a serious burden, not a minor adjustment.
#5 -- Eight Corners School is a poor choice for expansion
Most of the anticipated additional 200 K-2 students are to be accommodated by increasing the capacity of the Eight Corners School from 243 to 380 students on the existing site.
Unfortunately, the Eight Corners area is one of increasing concern in terms of traffic flow and safety. The current construction of the 120-unit apartment complex almost directly opposite the school location dramatizes the issue. Adding 140 students will surely exacerbate the drop-off and pick-up congestion at the school. The last thing the area needs is an increased traffic burden.
The demolition of the existing school and building of a new one on the same site while school is in session clearly pose construction challenges in terms of safety, learning distractions and traffic flow. The consultant reassures us that constructing a new school on an active existing school site is a "common occurrence" at other Maine schools. It may be common, but it certainly can't be ideal.
Other concerns:
There are several other concerns in addition to those noted above. They include:
No provision for a pre-Kindergarten program. Universal public pre-K is coming to Maine schools in the not too distant future. Although the timing is uncertain, there will be significant additional space needed for this program. The School Board specifically instructed the Building Committee not to include any provision for pre-K expansion in the current project.
The Town's debt position will increase dramatically. Adding $140 million of debt to the current balance of about $80 million will take us to around $220 million and likely put us at or near the top of Maine municipalities in terms of debt per capita.
The Town still has two major construction projects waiting in the wings. Both the pool/community center and library expansion have been eyed for years. The more expensive the school project is, the longer we will likely have to wait for those projects to fit within the Town's ability to afford them.
Final thoughts:
In summary, while the schools have some legitimate needs, the proposed solution needs to be reworked to an amount that adequately considers the financial constraints of the majority of residents. The 2024 survey documented residents' wishes -- $100 million or less. To get there, the current proposal needs to be defeated.
Please vote NO! on the two school building questions in the November 4 election!
This will probably be a very low turnout election. It's a cliche, but every vote really will matter!
If you have questions about the project or our position on it, feel free to email us at [email protected].
As always, thanks for staying informed and involved!
Unfortunately, the Eight Corners area is one of increasing concern in terms of traffic flow and safety. The current construction of the 120-unit apartment complex almost directly opposite the school location dramatizes the issue. Adding 140 students will surely exacerbate the drop-off and pick-up congestion at the school. The last thing the area needs is an increased traffic burden.
The demolition of the existing school and building of a new one on the same site while school is in session clearly pose construction challenges in terms of safety, learning distractions and traffic flow. The consultant reassures us that constructing a new school on an active existing school site is a "common occurrence" at other Maine schools. It may be common, but it certainly can't be ideal.
Other concerns:
There are several other concerns in addition to those noted above. They include:
No provision for a pre-Kindergarten program. Universal public pre-K is coming to Maine schools in the not too distant future. Although the timing is uncertain, there will be significant additional space needed for this program. The School Board specifically instructed the Building Committee not to include any provision for pre-K expansion in the current project.
The Town's debt position will increase dramatically. Adding $140 million of debt to the current balance of about $80 million will take us to around $220 million and likely put us at or near the top of Maine municipalities in terms of debt per capita.
The Town still has two major construction projects waiting in the wings. Both the pool/community center and library expansion have been eyed for years. The more expensive the school project is, the longer we will likely have to wait for those projects to fit within the Town's ability to afford them.
Final thoughts:
In summary, while the schools have some legitimate needs, the proposed solution needs to be reworked to an amount that adequately considers the financial constraints of the majority of residents. The 2024 survey documented residents' wishes -- $100 million or less. To get there, the current proposal needs to be defeated.
Please vote NO! on the two school building questions in the November 4 election!
This will probably be a very low turnout election. It's a cliche, but every vote really will matter!
If you have questions about the project or our position on it, feel free to email us at [email protected].
As always, thanks for staying informed and involved!
Stay in touch for the latest updates at:
> Joining us on Facebook at Concerned Taxpayers of Scarborough
> Signing up for our newsletter at [email protected]
> Joining us on Facebook at Concerned Taxpayers of Scarborough
> Signing up for our newsletter at [email protected]
