Letter to the editor: ‘Frustrated’ with disinformation
Please note: This letter reflects opinions regarding the November 2022 school referendum to construct a new, combined elementary and middle school. It does not represent the current 2024 Cape Elizabeth school proposal.
BY CAITLIN SWEET
I have been frustrated with the disinformation campaign in town on the new schools. The same voices keep ringing the alarm on how taxes will go up, but they seem to be missing the forest through the trees.
First, while the cost of new schools seem known, the renovation estimates seem like much more of a guesstimate. Knowing the schools are decades old, it seems almost guaranteed that large issues will come up so we have no idea what plan B actually costs. And apparently only buys us another 15 years!
We’re faced with spending either $116 million today for a new building that will last decades with standard upkeep or spending $70+ million dollars today AND $70++ million dollars in 15-20 years to keep the old building afloat. Not to mention the old buildings are way more expensive to maintain and won’t even be useable for years.
Paying $150 million over the next 50 years instead of $116 million today is not fiscally responsible. And students, fresh off COVID and already struggling to meet milestones will be in portable classrooms for 4 years to get maybe only 11 more functional years out of these buildings? It just seems crazy to me, the disinformation is muddying the common sense solution.
It’s a hard pill to swallow, but Cape is stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I have to have my taxes go up, I want get the bang for my buck. I will be voting yes on schools.
