Woodbridge finance director outlines $118.5M Beecher school plan and estimated tax impact

At a June 23 special meeting, the Beecher Road Schools Building Committee heard Anthony (Tony) Kennedy, Woodbridge finance director, present high‑level financing for a proposed new Beecher Road School estimated at $118.5 million. Kennedy said the town is using a blended state reimbursement estimate of roughly 53% to model debt‑service outcomes and tax impact.

Kennedy told the committee: “So the first slide here you'll recognize this is from the uh budget. It's an updated to represent the school project which just mentioned it's 118.5 million with a 53.18% state reimbursement.” He said more detailed modeling — including comparative debt service and tax impact across similar communities — will come in a fuller presentation to the Board of Finance in July.

Why it matters: the town would need both a successful referendum and placement on the state grant priority list to proceed. Kennedy presented a ten‑year average annual debt service for the school of about $3.8 million (described as roughly 5.3% of the town budget in an average year), with a projected peak debt service year around 2032 at an estimated $4.56 million. Using the town’s stated average assessed home value of $651,000, Kennedy presented illustrative tax effects of about $964 per year on the average property during the first decade and about $1,168 in the peak year; he described these as estimates pending final borrowing, reimbursement and audit outcomes.

The presentation also showed cash‑flow adjustments based on updated project schedules that front‑load some borrowing in the late 2020s, producing notable debt‑service increases in 2029–2032 before levels decline as older debt is paid off. Kennedy said the town is planning to borrow annually as cash needs arise, and may use short‑term notes to avoid borrowing more than required until final grant reimbursements are known.

Uncertainties and process safeguards: committee members pressed Kennedy on the reliability of the reimbursement assumption. Staff and consultants explained that final reimbursement depends on state review of approved concept designs, which determines what work is reimbursable, and that the state publishes its priority list December 15; the committee emphasized the project would not proceed without both a favorable referendum and the grant priority listing. Kennedy said the 53% figure incorporates adjustments for non‑reimbursable items the team has identified.

Alternatives and next steps: the consultants previously presented three options — a new build (D3, ≈$118.5M), a renovate‑as‑new option (A1, ≈$122.9M), and a repair‑only option the committee said would not meet long‑term classroom and program needs. Committee members asked for clearer, itemized estimates showing what it would cost to maintain the existing facility over 20 years versus building new; members said those comparisons should be included in public materials so voters can weigh tradeoffs. Kennedy said more detailed comparative modeling and tax‑impact scenarios will be presented to the Board of Finance in July.

What’s next: the committee will review a newsletter draft at its July 7 meeting, and staff said the town must be on the state priority list and pass a referendum before construction could proceed.

Sources and provenance: committee meeting transcript of the Beecher Road Schools Building Committee special meeting, June 23, 2026. The financial presentation began in the transcript at SEG 124 and continued through the committee Q&A into SEG 381.