Boards Weigh New School, Taxes, Legislation

Weston Today photo

Weston voters could be asked in November of 2027 to approve bonding to build a new middle school, a direction essentially set at a joint meeting of the boards of Selectmen, Education, and Finance on September 24.

A timeline presented at the meeting puts construction of a new school starting in the autumn of 2029 and ready to open by autumn 2031. Those targets depend on obtaining voter approval a year from now and, before that, special dispensation from the Legislature.

The new school would cost about $127 million all in, according to the most recent estimate. Some of that could be reimbursed by the State, but there is no guarantee. More on that in a minute.

Tax impact

Tri-board attendees heard an analysis by Board of Finance chair Michael Imber indicating that, ten years from now, debt service for building a new school could make the tax bill on a median-value Weston home $1,600 higher than it is today.

On top of that $1,600, add the inevitable growth of Town and school district operating budgets, plus millions foreseen as needed for other capital projects, and Mr. Imber’s projections put the median home’s 2036 tax bill either $5,100 or $6,500 more than it is today. The higher number comes from a more pessimistic assumption about operating budget growth.

Mr. Imber warned that his analysis is hypothetical and dependent on a number of factors, all subject to change.

It is also based on the assumption that State reimbursements would cover a percentage of school construction costs, but at twice the level provided by statute.

How much from the State?

Board of Education chair Deborah Low proposed that the Town hire a consultant who would create a marketing campaign to sell the project to the community and also lobby for special legislation in Hartford.

First Selectwoman Samantha Nestor, a candidate for the State Senate, recused herself from this topic, saying it would be inappropriate to discuss hiring someone to lobby legislators when she might become one.

By statute, new school construction in Weston qualifies for only 12½ percent reimbursement. Maximum. And the town wouldn’t actually get that much. Some costs are almost always ineligible, and the building as currently conceived is larger than a State space standard, which disqualifies around 28,000 square feet. The final reimbursement could fall below 7 percent.

The hope is that the town could get legislation approved that waives the space limit and commits the State to provide at least 22.14 percent reimbursement, the rate for a renovation-as-new project. That rate can be applied when constructing a new building is cheaper than renovating. Success would reduce the net cost borne by local taxpayers.

But for the proposed timeline to hold, such legislation would have to pass in the upcoming General Assembly session, which adjourns in June. If a bill doesn’t pass, there would be no State commitment of funds that voters could take into account when casting ballots in a November 2027 referendum, assuming that a referendum would be scheduled at all under those circumstances.

Failing to obtain special legislation, Weston could still enter the normal school construction grant process by applying as early as June of 2027. But it would take a year to get a reimbursement commitment, well past the referendum target date.