Millis submits middle-high school project to state; select board opens fall town-meeting warrant

Millis officials told residents Tuesday that the town has submitted its final middle-high school project to the Massachusetts School Building Authority and the select board voted to open the fall annual town-meeting warrant.

The town administrator, Mike Kaczynski, said the town submitted the “final proposed project” to the state and that the next step is to receive cost estimates. Kaczynski said municipal interest rates were currently “about 4 and a half percent” for borrowing but could fall to “3 and a half” if the Federal Reserve reduces rates, which would change household cost estimates.

The submission begins a process that, if approved by voters, will require two votes: a two-thirds vote at the Nov. 10 fall annual town meeting to allow the town to borrow for the project, and a Dec. 8 ballot question to authorize the tax increase. "The first one allows us to spend the money and the second one allows us to increase taxes," Kaczynski said. "The first one is meaningless without the second and the second one is meaningless without the first. So they both have to pass." He urged residents to attend both meetings.

Why it matters: The project has been years in planning; state review and the subsequent bonding process will determine final costs to Millis taxpayers. Town officials said they will present an estimate of the tax impact to residents and hold informational meetings around town to answer questions. Kaczynski said the town will run cost scenarios at different interest rates and meet with groups at the council on aging and neighborhood venues to explain likely household impacts.

Select board action: The select board voted unanimously to open the warrant for the Nov. 10 fall annual town meeting and to keep it open until the board's next meeting on Sept. 29. The motion was made and seconded and passed by voice vote.

Officials said the bonding for the project itself is not expected to be immediate; Kaczynski said it could be roughly two years before bonding occurs. He also said the town will publish tax-rate implications for typical households using conservative and lower interest-rate scenarios so voters can see a range of likely impacts.

The board and school officials also discussed outreach: Kaczynski invited community groups to schedule presentations and house-party style discussions, saying the town will "take the roadshow out" to explain the project and answer "uncomfortable questions." The select board plans additional meetings to finalize warrant articles before the Sept. 29 deadline.

Ending: Town officials said more detailed cost estimates and a schedule of public information sessions will be released as soon as the state provides pricing. Residents who want to attend outreach meetings or request a presentation were asked to contact the select board or the school building committee.