SAVE NORTH KINGSTOWN

No, to the $137 Million Dollar School Bond…Yes, to a Better Solution!

 

As a candidate for Town Council, and homeowner in North Kingstown for almost sixteen years, I am not in favor of the passage of the thirty-year School Bond for $137 million dollars. The "new Bond" that will be on the ballot in November is just a “dusted off.” version of the defeated Bond in 2023.  This Bond is composed of $77 million dollars for a new Wickford Middle School (WMS) and the remainder, approximately $60 million dollars for a remodel, overdue maintenance and new roofs for our other schools. Both colossal expenditures are the result of a lack of disciplined annual funding of school maintenance for years and years.

 

A Better Solution

 

The proposed $77 million dollars cost for the new Wickford Middle School equals out to almost $1000 per sq/ft. (that includes, removal of the current school and all new equipment).  $1000 per sq/ft?

 

I know of, no thorough study by a qualified, disinterested party that demonstrated, that it is cheaper to build a new Wickford Middle School than to rehab the current structure. Does the firm that made the “build only” recommendation have a vested interest?  Why was there only one set of cost projections? These are serious decisions that required oversight by the Town Council.  Sadly, they just brought out the “Rubber Stamp of Approval” without any regards for the Taxpayers!

 

The Town Council and School Committee need to keep in mind that the Town’s majority of revenues come from property taxes paid by homeowners (both working and retired), and business owners. Drastic property tax increases of $500, $700, or thousands per year (based on property value) for decades will have a crippling effect on all residential homeowners.

 

They sadly ignored that high property taxes for elderly homeowners is one of the most devastating forms of Taxation. I cannot and will not sit by quietly and let this happen when I know we can fix this.

 

So many elderly homeowners are on fixed incomes, and property tax increases such as this proposed Bond, are heartless. It will force many to cut their food, medical, heating and air conditioning budgets (just to mention a few of the serious consequences) with the passage of this large Bond. We can, and must do better!

 

My solution requires the newly seated Democrats and Independents after the November election to work together and seek ways to lower cost projections. My recommendation to the School Committee is to partner with the Town Council and bring in another Architect to offer a second opinion with new cost assumptions. And if needed, create a new design that meets both student needs and Taxpayer affordability. Then, and only then, should the new School Committee and Town Council send the school bond to the Taxpayers for a vote.

 

And yes, we can address the school repair / update issues, using current budget dollars in a responsible manner over the next several years. It is nonsense to fund new roofs with long-term debt.

 

Lastly, why would we accept a 35% reimbursement rate from the State of Rhode Island for a potential school build when other Cities and Towns received 50%. They said the clock has run out for the 50% rate. Sadly, our Legislative team failed us…they never tried to get the 50% rate reinstated…another reason, to vote No!

 

On October 16th through November 5th, Please Vote NO ON THE SCHOOL BOND and VOTE for the Independent candidates running for the Town Council and the School Committee, so that we can put Student needs and Taxpayer affordability on equal terms. 

 

Working together, we can develop a solid common sense plan to renovate or build a new Middle School but at much, much, lower cost.