As Wethersfield’s huge school renovation and replacement referendum draws closer, a small contingent of residents is trying to rally a “no” vote on Sept.16.
“We formed a PAC, Wethersfield Against Referendum, on Aug. 11; we have been unofficially formed since mid-July,” Chairman Diane Fournier said.
The group has just four members as of late August, but Fournier said it represents the views of many town residents who fear a significant tax increase if the referendum passes. She acknowledged that an online initiative didn’t draw many visitors, but said the group has been actively sending letters to the weekly and monthly local newspapers.
“We are well known at the town council as we’ve been speaking at their meetings for at least six weeks,” she said, and the group recently began placing “vote no” signs on lawns around town.
Just last week, a drive through several dozen Wethersfield streets showed no indication of organized opposition, but there was a steady stream of “vote yes” signs from advocates. Fournier said her group has put out about 70 signs so far, and has ordered another 100.
The town council in June unanimously endorsed holding a referendum on whether to spend $239 million replacing one of Wethersfield’s elementary schools and thoroughly renovating two others.
The school board and local educators have been clamoring for years to upgrade the schools, which date back several decades. Local officials are hoping voters will approve the project because the state government is offering to reimburse $151 million, leaving local taxpayers to put up $88 million.
Fournier’s group argues that the plan is simply too expensive, despite the state aid.
“This money is not free; it comes from the state in the form of taxes,” she said Thursday.
“When putting up opposing signs, the main comment I heard was ‘we can’t afford to live in this town; tax increases are unending. This town never stops.’ It’s the main reason we started the opposition,” she said.
Some proponents have described the state as paying for 73% of the cost, but Fournier emphasized that’s only 73% of eligible construction costs. There’s another $23.9 million of expenses that don’t qualify for state aid; in all, the town will have to pay 37% of the $239 million budget, while the state covers 63%.
That’s still a significantly higher rate of state aid than the usual 46% to 54%. But opponents argue taxpayers just can’t afford it.
“The most difficult thing is that you hear ‘if you’re against this project, you’re not for our children.’ That couldn’t be further from the truth. We all have children and grandchildren,” Fournier said. “But we can’t afford this, there are people saying they’re going to have to leave town. If you cut this in half, you’d have people voting for it. There are seniors who can’t pay for this.”
After this, the town will still have two more elementary schools to renovate, with a total cost between both phases of work around $400 million, she said.
Proponents counter that Wethersfield has an opportunity now to get more state aid than usual for a project that’s overdue.
“The cost of doing nothing is quite high. The longer we delay passing this referendum, the higher costs will rise. And the ‘maintenance only’ option costs about $55 million,” says Win It For Wethersfield, the group leading the “vote yes” campaign. “By renovating all five schools, property values go up, we decrease utility costs as we make energy-efficient upgrades, and we follow through on our commitment to equitable schools across the town.”
But Fournier’s group says designers want to overbuild, with too much space and too much expense for a town where elementary enrollment has been dropping.
The town has about 19,500 registered voters who will decide Sept. 16 how to proceed. The referendum voting will be held from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
