March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

SAD 29 board rescinds bond issue plan> District budget to be increased by 1 mill instead

HOULTON — Depending on what voters in SAD 29 decide on an alternative funding plan next month, they might not get a crack at a $3.5 million high school renovation bond issue in November.

The school board voted Monday night to rescind action it took in January to put the referendum before voters. The funding, if approved, would have been used to make renovations and repairs at the 40-year-old Houlton High School to address building and other code deficiencies, inadequate classrooms, and problems with the heating system.

The board voted instead to add 1 mill in funding to the district budget to pay for the project in phases over a period of several years. One mill raises $217,000 in the district, which comprises Hammond, Houlton, Littleton and Monticello.

Pending final board action next week, the figure will be included as a separate warrant article in the district’s overall budget that will go before voters in June.

Should the 1 mill option fail, the board still can bring the bond issue back for voter consideration in November, Superintendent of Schools William McDonnell said Tuesday.

The proposed 1998 budget of $7.7 million already includes $130,000 for high school renovation work. The alternative funding plan would push the budget to more than $7.9 million.

With funding approval, the first phase of the renovations would include a new main entrance; replacement of old, leaking windows in the junior high wing, library and social studies area; new siding along the south side of the school facing Bird Street; and driveway and parking area improvements along the south and west sides of the school.

At an estimated cost of $325,000, the first phase is intended not only to address problems, but also to provide a more favorable exterior impression of the school.

The alternative, phased plan was devised in cooperation with Houlton officials who became concerned that, with interest, the final cost of the bond issue would be close of $5.5 million.

As the largest financial contributor to the district, the town would see its local tax rate jump by close to $1.75 per $1,000 of property valuation for each of 20 years.

It was felt that that would discourage businesses from locating in the town and make it prohibitive for people to live there. The town’s tax rate in 1996 was 24 mills.

Under the 1 mill plan, Houlton would pay an extra $168,044 a year for each year that the plan was approved by voters. That compares to a mandatory $294,077 for 20 years under the bond proposal.

Hammond would pay an extra $4,752, under the 1 mill plan; Littleton would pay $23,088 more; and Monticello would pay $21,114.

Some school board members have suggested that additional money for the project could come from Houlton. The Department of Environmental Protection last month released $259,000 to the town for accepting excess, nonburnable waste from Penobscot Energy Recovery Co. The material was used to close the town’s landfill.

Town officials have been considering uses for the money, including recreation programs.

Town Manager Allan Bean said Tuesday that while no decision has been made for use of the trash money, and the Town Council would consider any reasonable request, Houlton traditionally has paid only its 77 percent of the school costs.


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