Attleboro Override Boat Needs A Captain
by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle
Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux was sworn into office this week. Of the many issues that will demand his time and attention, none are more important than the one that has dominated city politics for the last few years.
That is education, and more specifically the anticipated placement of a Proposition 21/2 debt exclusion on the ballot to fund a proposed new Attleboro High School.
The cost is anticipated to be around $266 million, with approximately half to be funded through state reimbursement. That would leave about $133 million to be raised through the property tax.
For the average city home valued at $280,000, the tax increase would be $393 per year over the 20-year life of the bond. That is an average, with some years being higher and some lower. The debt exclusion tax would disappear after 20 years, when the project is paid off in full.
Obviously, this is a big deal for city taxpayers, students and parents. The current high school is a half-century old, and repairing it would actually cost more than building a new school. But city voters have never — ever — approved an override. Many believe they should not start now.
Mayor Heroux favors building the new school. But campaigning on this issue and governing with it are two different things. The new administration is clearly in favor of the concept, but leading the actual effort is much more difficult and can be politically dangerous. Just ask Kevin Dumas.
Heroux’s campaign manager and former city councilor and state representative Bill Bowles recently turned some heads when he questioned the integrity of both the numbers being circulated and the leaders of the override effort. While insisting he favors building the school, Bowles was plowing the political ground the Heroux administration must cultivate. Heroux inherited the Dumas debt exclusion plan, and that is being made very clear.
A significant segment of the voting populace will oppose this override on purely philosophical grounds. They want no new taxes — period. They are not interested in explanations of the numbers, they just want them discredited. They believe their counterparts on the “other side” will support the project under any circumstances.
Overrides are perhaps the most divisive thing a Massachusetts community does. But debt exclusions for schools are often successful for one simple reason: The amount of school building reimbursement makes them a relatively good “bargain” (note the quotation marks) for property taxpayers.
If Attleboro voters turn down the state money (which comes in part from their state taxes), there are plenty of other communities willing to take it. One way or another, it will be spent.
Mayor Heroux wants to combine the override vote with a possible upcoming special election to fill his state representative seat. One reason is to save money, which makes good fiscal sense — even though the state partially funds special elections.
However, overrides are different. They are generally more emotional, often bringing out those who might not otherwise participate in the electoral process. As I have often noted, that can be a good thing.
But seeking to spend $266 million? A case can be made that deserves its own ballot. Combining it with a state representative race — that does not even include the entire city — is unfair to both the candidates and the debt exclusion. Not to mention the city and its people.
It would be virtually impossible to focus on the many issues in a Statehouse race with the override looming over the election. State representatives play virtually no role in overrides, yet that would dominate the discussion.
Heroux now must convince voters this debt exclusion is not a sign of failure, but a necessary component in the growth of a healthy city. His administration must instill confidence rather than stoke the fires of doubt. Assuming, of course, they truly believe it is the right thing to do.
Heroux said of the override planning effort, “I will not rock the boat. I will be in a support capacity.” But if he wants this passed, he needs to do far more than not rock the debt exclusion boat. He needs to captain it. His inaugural speech was a great start. For if the administration does not go all in, the debt exclusion will undoubtedly go down.
Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be reached at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.
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