FAQs

  • A1:  The scope is different.  For example, the renovation/consolidation project means building new classrooms at Troy, Emerson, and Mt. Caesar.  The capital plan is a list of ‘band aid’ projects to keep repairing only what we have
  • A2:  With renovations we are solving a larger issue not described in the capital plan:  Many of our classrooms and shared spaces are  undersized, and many of them in awkward places, such as libraries and special services in the basement, or two classrooms of the same grade being on opposite ends of the building

  • A1:  The Softball, Soccer, and Lacrosse fields will need to be reconfigured, and there may be disruption during the year of construction
  • A2:  The intent is to move (but keep) all of the existing fields; the cost of these changes is included in the project budget

  • A1:  Yes, but only a handful of classes, and we are working to minimize that as much as possible
  • A2:  To minimize that impact to families, construction will occur in phases.  Once the first school is ready, there will be space for one or two classes to attend an alternate town from the next school starting construction

  • A1: Each year the district currently votes for ~$1.5m in project construction warrant articles, but the cost of each of those projects is rising due to inflation and many of the backlogged projects now cost closer to $2m each
  • A2:  The intent of this project (with a bond) is to purchase all of the work in a 2-3 year period, and then pay for it over time
  • A3:  The cost of that bond per year will be ~$2m per year, BUT there will be a multitude of savings in heating oil, electricity, etc.
  • A4:  The net effect to our taxes will be neutral at first, and then lower taxes over time
  • A5:  For details see the Project Financials page

  • A1:  The bond for our district will be is like a 20 year fixed rate loan, but with a declining payment (the payment goes down every year)
  • A2:  If the bond rate is the SAME as the inflation rate (every year), then the bond method creates a stable, predictable tax rate
  • A3:  If the bond rate is LOWER than inflation, then the bond method creates a tax savings by avoiding the inflation we would pay if we waited on a project
  • A4:  The district will apply for a fixed rate bond from the NH Municipal Bond Bank


Source: Bond vs Loan (wallstreetmojo.com)