Above: The NBC is promoting more opportunities for the public to catch up on the big investment they are asking voters to make in a new four grade school at Neary (image of rendering from Facebook post)
With the Special Town Meeting coming up a week from Saturday, and the Town ballot question a few days later, some residents may be realizing they still have a lot of questions about the Neary Building Project.
The Neary Building Committee has scheduled two more opportunities. Plus, I’m sharing links to videos from the forums already held.
(Before I get into those details, for readers who want more information on how to vote on the project, scroll down for a refresher.)
Learning about the Building Project
The upcoming presentations with Q&A are scheduled for:
- This Thursday, May 1st, 7:30 pm at Trottier Middle School
- Monday, May 5th over zoom. (Stay tuned for the time and the link.)
Instead of participating in those, you can take advantage of videos from their past forums. (Or watch the prior forums to catch up, then use the new ones to ask any questions you still have.) Below are links to the videos:
- Finance Subcommittee Presentation (March 31st)
- Project Overview Presentation with the Select Board, Advisory Committee and School Committee (April 3rd)
- Educational Benefits Presentation (April 10th)
- Project Site Presentation (April 16th)
Two weeks ago, Select Board member Al Hamilton submitted a letter to the editor on this blog sharing a link to his own video on the number crunching he personally did on the Town debt and “big picture” related to borrowing for the project.
You can also check out the FAQs and materials on the Neary Building website here. But note that the Financial FAQs still uses a fact that is misleading out of context of the presentation:
The site has been updated to lower the cost for the average home to $602. But while that is listed as for the average home value of $1,175,301, it doesn’t clarify that is the assumed FY2032 average value. When comparing for the impact on your own home, you should use the FY2025 average assessed value of $957,546.74. (For your home’s current assessed value, you can check your most recent tax bill or the property tax records here.)
In the Financial Presentation, Kathy Cook explained that the projected FY32 average value is based on taking the current value and assuming a 4% increase per year.
The committee had stated plans to add a calculator to the FAQs for residents to evaluate the cost for their homes but that hasn’t been added yet.
You can also check out past coverage of the project, including letters to the editor opposing and supporting the project, here.
Voting on the Project
Special Town Meeting & Town Election
Both big votes are open to all Southborough voters. Nothing special is required unless you aren’t yet registered to vote in Southborough. The deadline to do that and participate in the Special Town Meeting is today, April 28th. The deadline for the ballot is Monday, May 5th at 8:00 pm. Registration is handled through the state’s website here.
The Special Town Meeting to approve borrowing for the project will take place at Algonquin Regional High School on Saturday, May 10th at 9:00 am. Parents will be able to bring children and sit with them in the auditorium, and fully participate in the meeting. Other voters will be in the “main hall” which will be setup in the gymnasium. Click here for more details.
The ballot question to approve the required Proposition 2½ override to allow the expense is through the Annual Town Election. That is Tuesday May 13 from 6:30 am to 8:00 pm. As usual, all three precincts will vote in the Trottier Middle School’s Gym at 49 Parkerville Road. If you won’t be able to make it there in person. . .
Absentee Ballots – Act Now!
Voters only have until Tuesday, May 6th at 5:00 pm to submit the form requesting a Town Election ballot be mailed to them. But to avoid overburdening Town staff — don’t wait until close to that deadline!
Click here to open the form. The applications can be mailed, hand delivered or emailed. (If mailed, you’ll definitely want to give extra time!)
To apply, you will need to identify your precinct. You can find a map and online help for that on the Town Clerk’s dedicated election page here.
