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Auburn School Committee approves warrant articles seeking funds for turf field, vehicle and repurposed capital
Summary
The committee approved placing warrant articles on the October special town meeting warrant seeking roughly $300,000 toward replacing Auburn High School's all-purpose turf field, requested repurposing of existing CIP balances, and voted to request $70,000 from the town to supplement an anticipated $70,000 earmark for a wheelchair-accessible multi-function bus.
The Auburn School Committee voted to submit several warrant articles to the October 2026 special town meeting that together aim to advance a replacement of the all-purpose turf field at Auburn High School and to partially fund a wheelchair-accessible passenger vehicle.
Business manager Megan (as presented to the committee) said the turf project will likely cost between $600,000 and $700,000. The committee voted to request $300,000 on the warrant and to seek repurposing of $150,000 previously listed in the FY2025 capital plan plus an additional $60,000 and $40,000 from earlier parking and resurfacing budget lines to help cover the shortfall. "It is one of the most heavily used fields in town," a committee member said, noting consultants advised the district could get one more season but that replacement is necessary for safety.
Separately, the committee agreed to request $70,000 from the town to match an expected $70,000 fair-share earmark toward a $140,000 replacement for a wheelchair-accessible multi-function bus. The business manager said the district has already put about $25,000 into repairs on the current vehicle and that continued investment has reached the point where replacement is warranted.
Committee members and staff discussed operational concerns related to turf use and maintenance (chairs or hard objects can damage synthetic turf) and the need to build a replacement cycle into the capital improvement program so the town and district can proactively budget for field replacements.
Formal motions to place the warrant articles on the town special meeting warrant and to repurpose the specified CIP balances were made, seconded and approved by voice vote. The business manager said final approvals and funding decisions will occur at town meeting.
Votes at a glance: the committee approved (voice votes) motions to submit the warrant articles, to repurpose FY2024 and FY2027 CIP balances toward the field replacement, and to request the town contribution for the vehicle. Details of the town meeting deliberation and any final appropriation will be decided by town meeting voters.
