Council representative says remaining high-school bonding may be available without new referendum; track-and-field could be scheduled for 2027

A representative speaking on behalf of the town council told the Farmington High School building committee on March 4 that the council’s current view is to let the committee finish its contracted work and then consider using remaining authorization to fund additional work, and that the amount available to bond was estimated to be about $4,000,000.

“That amount of money that remains subject to bonding under the high school authorization, as I understand it, is approximately $4,000,000,” the council representative said. He told the committee staff and counsel had indicated the council could ratify such bonding without sending another referendum to voters, though he emphasized the council had not yet made a decision.

The council representative said one benefit of moving the remaining work to a town-managed capital project would be to avoid some of the extra owner’s-representative expenses associated with the current high-school project and could allow the town to start track and field work in 2027. He also noted the council faces other near-term capital needs, including an estimated $7,000,000 of repair work on the old town hall, which affects the council’s appetite for asking voters for additional bonds.

Committee members asked for clarification and the council representative reiterated that, based on information from finance staff and counsel, “this money does not require a referendum,” adding, “Absolutely not.” He and other committee members said the council would likely hold public discussions in the fall before any final action and that timing and exact amounts remain to be confirmed by town finance staff.

Next steps: the building committee will report remaining contingency and closeout status to the town council; the council will consider the financing approach and timing in future public meetings.