Voters in Cape Elizabeth narrowly rejected a $94.7 million school improvement plan that included the construction of a new middle school for $89.9 million.
The bond for the proposed “Middle Ground School Project Design” was rejected by just 166 votes, representing only 2.47 percent of those who turned out to the polls.
[RELATED: Cape Elizabeth Voters to Decide on $94.7 Million Plan to Construct New Middle School]
The $89.9 million “Middle Ground School Project Design” had been developed after two years of deliberation by the School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC), and was accompanied on the ballot by a $4.8 million addition proposed by Chairman Tim Reiniger that would preserve part of the existing middle school.
The Middle Ground proposal included plans to construct a new middle school, as well as to make a number of essential upgrades to the elementary and high schools.
A document from the Town’s Bond Counsel, Joe Cuetara, broke down the long term tax impact that these projects would have had on residents if the $94.7 million bond were approved.
Based on a rate of 3.5 percent over thirty years, Cape Elizabeth residents could have expected to see their property taxes increase a total of 12.2 percent over the course of several years, beginning with a 2 percent hike in the 2026/2027 tax year.
This would have been followed by a 6.1 percent increase the next year and a 4.1 percent raise in the third year.
The final payment on this bond would have been made by the Town on November 1, 2057.
In August, Town Councilors rejected a $42 million alternative proposed by Chairman Reiniger that represented a pared back version of this proposal, one that would only make “critically needed building repairs and renovations” to the school buildings instead of constructing an entirely new building.
Reiniger’s proposal would have raised residents’ taxes by about five percent over the life of the bond, compared to the more than twelve percent necessary to build a new middle school.
“This proposal, which would represent a 5% tax increase, is not meant to undermine or take away from the School Board’s proposed new middle school, but rather to provide a minimum alternative should town citizens prefer a smaller tax impact,” said Reiniger in a statement at the time.
Voters were also asked at the ballot box if they wanted to authorize the Town Council to spend $1.65 million worth of gifts and grants on the installation of solar panels at the middle school. This measure was overwhelmingly approved by residents, receiving 70.87 percent support among those who voted.
Several local offices were also on the ballot this week, including seats on the Town Council and School Board.
As there were three open positions on the School Board, all three candidates who ran — Christopher Boniakowski, Peter Engel, and Lee Schroeder — were elected to serve next term.
The Town Council also had three open seats, but there were far more candidates in the running. Victorious were Jonathan Sahrbeck, Elizabeth Scifres, and Andrew Swayze.
Reiniger — who currently serves as the Chair of the Town Council — lost his bid for reelection, receiving the fewest number of votes out of all the candidates on the ballot.
David Andrews and David Hughes — who also did not make the final cut for the Town Council — have been supporting the Cookie Jar in their ongoing battle to retain use of the four parking spaces located in the front of their building.
Getting smarter every day and perhaps a lesion to every other town. If you build it, mills will fill it.
I most certainly would not be spending any money on public expenditures until conservatives are back in power and real immigration laws are enacted or build it with at least 20,000 extra seats, you know like Springfield. The choice is yours.
It is the money stupid.
Instead of Middle School I have a middle finger for you, Mills.