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Forum candidates generally support building a new high school and placing a bond question on the ballot
Summary
Candidates said they would support issuing bonds and placing a debt‑exclusion question on the ballot to finance a new high school, arguing new construction would cost less than renovation and provide long‑term benefits for students.
At a candidates’ forum for City Council districts 1 and 5, candidates addressed a proposed new high school project that would be financed partly by the state and partly by local bond measures. Most candidates expressed support for construction of a new building and said they would back putting a debt‑exclusion question before voters.
Why it matters: The project would require voter approval for local borrowing and could shift capital spending priorities; candidates said timing matters because inflation raises future costs.
Discussion points: Several candidates said renovating the existing building would cost significantly more than a replacement and that a new high school would be less disruptive to students. One candidate said the current school consumes about 35% of municipal electricity and that investments in new facilities would be an opportunity to improve efficiency.
Candidates agreed that public outreach will be crucial to secure voter approval and said they would communicate the financial case to residents, including comparative cost figures and the share of state aid available. Several candidates urged placing the funding question on the ballot to let voters decide.
Ending: Candidates said they would reserve final judgment until the mayor’s proposal and detailed cost estimates were published but expressed support for a ballot measure that combines state aid with municipal bonding to replace the high school.
