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What I Know Now

In light of the failed referendum last year, town boards are now tasked with addressing the maintenance needs of our schools with an estimated price tag of $100 million. There seems to be an internal debate about how to move forward. As a taxpayer who voted “No” on the referendum, I would argue that the town needs to bring this issue back to the voters. I voted based on the uncertainty of the state’s fiscal condition, which did not give me any comfort funds would be available, and no benchmark to compare the cost of construction versus maintenance.

What changed? We now have a better idea of the maintenance costs of the status quo, the cost of which is greater than the estimated $66 million cost of the most expensive option. It makes no sense to spend significant maintenance dollars on obsolete structures. Town residents now have a benchmark to compare options. I am also cautiously optimistic that fiscal policy in Hartford will improve with this election cycle, mitigating the shift of state fiscal burdens onto local budgets.

I appreciate that residents have a say in the town’s governance and that Madison town boards are very deferential to town input, but they are elected to lead and sometimes need to make the case and move forward. The school realignment process took more than two years with numerous opportunities for input and queries.

It is time for a do-over, so let’s sharpen the argument using new and updated information and persuade the voters. Those maintenance costs will drain funds from other town needs. Given what I know now, I would reconsider my nay vote and I would argue that other voters would do so as well.

Peter Loftus

Madison